Differential vulnerability of thalamic nuclei in multiple sclerosis
Simon Blyau, Ismail Koubiyr, Manojkumar Saranathan, Pierrick Coupé, Mathilde Deloire, Julie Charré‐Morin, Aurore Saubusse, Bei Zhang, Brian K. Rutt, Vincent Dousset, Bruno Brochet, Aurélie Ruet, Thomas Tourdias
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Investigating differential vulnerability of thalamic nuclei in multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: In a secondary analysis of prospectively collected datasets, we pooled 136 patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome and 71 healthy controls all scanned with conventional 3D-T1 and white-matter-nulled magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (WMn-MPRAGE) and tested for cognitive performance. T1-based thalamic segmentation was compared with the reference WMn-MPRAGE method. Volumes of thalamic nuclei were compared according to clinical phenotypes and cognitive profile. RESULTS: T1- and WMn-MPRAGE provided comparable segmentations (0.84 ± 0.13 < volume-similarity-index < 0.95 ± 0.03). Medial and posterior thalamic groups were significantly more affected than anterior and lateral groups. Cognitive impairment related to volume loss of the anterior group. CONCLUSION: Thalamic nuclei closest to the third ventricle are more affected, with cognitive consequences.