RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Normal volumes and microstructural integrity of deep gray matter structures in AQP4+ NMOSD JF Neurology - Neuroimmunology Neuroinflammation JO Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins SP e229 DO 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000229 VO 3 IS 3 A1 Finke, Carsten A1 Heine, Josephine A1 Pache, Florence A1 Lacheta, Anna A1 Borisow, Nadja A1 Kuchling, Joseph A1 Bellmann-Strobl, Judith A1 Ruprecht, Klemens A1 Brandt, Alexander U. A1 Paul, Friedemann YR 2016 UL http://nn.neurology.org/content/3/3/e229.abstract AB Objective: To assess volumes and microstructural integrity of deep gray matter structures in a homogeneous cohort of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 36 aquaporin-4 antibody-positive (AQP4 Ab-positive) Caucasian patients with NMOSD and healthy controls matched for age, sex, and education. Volumetry of deep gray matter structures (DGM; thalamus, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens) was performed using 2 independent automated methods. Microstructural integrity was assessed based on diffusion tensor imaging.Results: Both volumetric analysis methods consistently revealed similar volumes of DGM structures in patients and controls without significant group differences. Moreover, no differences in DGM microstructural integrity were observed between groups.Conclusions: Deep gray matter structures are not affected in AQP4 Ab-positive Caucasian patients with NMOSD. NMOSD imaging studies should be interpreted with respect to Ab status, educational background, and ethnicity of included patients.Ab=antibody; AQP4=aquaporin-4; DGM=deep gray matter; DTI=diffusion tensor imaging; FA=fractional anisotropy; ICV=intracranial volume; LETM=longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis; MANOVA=multivariate analysis of variance; MD=mean diffusivity; MOG=myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; NMO=neuromyelitis optica; NMOSD=neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; ON=optic neuritis