White matter changes in patients with friedreich ataxia after treatment with erythropoietin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Erythropoietin (EPO) has received growing attention because of its neuroregenerative properties. Preclinical and clinical evidence supports its therapeutic potential in brain conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia. Also, in Friedreich ataxia, clinical improvement after EPO therapy was shown. The aim of this study was to assess possible therapy-associated brain white matter changes in these patients.

METHODS:

Nine patients with Friedreich ataxia underwent Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) before and after EPO treatment. Tract-based spatial statistics was used for longitudinal comparison.

RESULTS:

We detected widespread longitudinal increase in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity (D||) in cerebral hemispheres bilaterally (P < .05, corrected), while no changes were observed within the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and pons.

CONCLUSIONS:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first DTI study to investigate the effects of EPO in a neurodegenerative disease. Anatomically, the diffusivity changes appear disease unspecific, and their biological underpinnings deserve further study.

• Authors: Karl Egger, Christian Clemm von Hohenberg, Michael F Schocke, Charles R G Guttmann, Demian Wassermann, Marlene C Wigand, Wolfgang Nachbauer, Christian Kremser, Brigitte Sturm, Barbara Scheiber-Mojdehkar, Marek Kubicki, Martha E Shenton, Sylvia Boesch
• Journal: Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging (J Neuroimaging) 2014 Sep-Oct Vol. 24 Issue 5 Pg. 504-8 ISSN: 1552-6569 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24015771 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 by the American Society of Neuroimaging.

Chemical References

• Neuroprotective Agents
• Erythropoietin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (methods)
• Erythropoietin (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Friedreich Ataxia (drug therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neuroprotective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• White Matter (drug effects, pathology)
• Young Adult