Journal Article

Metachromatic leukodystrophy: natural course of cerebral MRI changes in relation to clinical course

Krägeloh-Mann, Ingeborg, Groeschel, Samuel, í Dali, Christine, Bley, Annette, Grodd, Wolfgang, Engel, Corinna, Steinfeld, Robert, Kehrer, Christiane

2011

Overview

Objective Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare disorder leading to demyelination and neurological impairment. A natural history study within the German leukodystrophy network analyzed MRI changes with respect to the clinical course. Methods 113 MR images of 68 patients (33 late-infantile, 35 juvenile) were studied cross-sectionally and longitudinally. MRI and motor deterioration were assessed using standardized scoring systems. Results The temporal and spatial patterns of MR severity scores differed between the late-infantile and juvenile form. Although early (involving central white matter, corpus callosum) and late signs (involving pons, cerebellum, cerebral atrophy) were similar, high MRI scores (mean 18, SD 1.2, p < 0.001) were evident in the juvenile form already at the onset of first symptoms and even in presymptomatic patients. The progression rate of the MRI score was clearly higher and more uniform in the late-infantile (on average 8 per year, p < 0.0001) than in the juvenile patients (on average 0.4 per year, p < 0.08). In late-infantile patients, MRI changes correlated highly with motor deterioration (rho = 0.73, p < 0.001), this was less remarkable in the juvenile form (rho = 0.50, p < 0.01). Severe motor dysfunction was associated with U-fiber involvement and cerebellar changes (p < 0.05). Conclusions MRI showed a typical spatial pattern, which evolved gradually and uniformly during disease progression in late-infantile MLD. In juvenile MLD MRI changes were already observed at disease onset and temporal patterns were more variable. As therapeutic options for MLD are evolving, these findings are not only important for patient counseling but also for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions.

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer,Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subject: Adolescent / Biochemistry / Biological and medical sciences / Brain - diagnostic imaging / Brain - pathology / Child / Child, Preschool / Cross-Sectional Studies / Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases / Disease Progression / Errors of metabolism / Female / Human Genetics / Humans / Infant / Internal Medicine / Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic - diagnostic imaging / Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic - epidemiology / Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic - pathology / Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic - physiopathology / Lipids (lysosomal enzyme disorders, storage diseases) / Longitudinal Studies / Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods / Male / Medical genetics / Medical sciences / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Metabolic Diseases / Monitoring, Physiologic - methods / Motor Activity - physiology / Neurology / Original Article / Pediatrics / Radiography / Severity of Illness Index