Gil-Valadez A
Mexico
Review Article
Increase of Pyramidal Tract Fractional Anisotropy on MRI after Stem Cell Transplantation in ALS Patients
Author(s): Martínez HR, González-Garza MT, Moreno-Cuevas JE, Caro-Osorio E, Gil-Valadez A, Ocañas CEE, Marioni SS and Hernandez-Torre MMartínez HR, González-Garza MT, Moreno-Cuevas JE, Caro-Osorio E, Gil-Valadez A, Ocañas CEE, Marioni SS and Hernandez-Torre M
Background and Purpose: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the selective death of motor
neurons. Cortical neuron loss is associated with axonal degeneration along specific white matter tracts. Fractional
anisotropy (FA) determined by Magnetic Resonance (MR) might detect integrity or changes in brain white matter
pathways. This study was aimed to analyze pyramidal tract changes in ALS patients submitted to stem cell
transplantation into the frontal motor cortices.
Patients and Methods: Fourteen patients with definite ALS were included. After signing their informed consent,
the patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pyramidal tract (PT) from the corona radiata to
medulla oblongata was evaluated by quantitative voxel-wise analysis, including FA and diffusion tensor tractography
derived from MR .. View More»
