Abstract #1225

Cerebral diffusion-weighted spectroscopy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients shows higher diffusion in all intra-cellular metabolites compared to controls

Nathalie Doorenweerd^1,2, Ece Ercan¹, Melissa T Hooijmans¹, Jedrek Burakiewicz¹, Andrew Webb¹, Jos G.M. Hendriksen^3,4, Jan J.G.M. Verschuuren², Erik H Niks², Hermien E. Kan¹, and Itamar Ronen¹

¹C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, ²Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, ³Neurological Learning Disabilities, Kempenhaeghe Epilepsy Center, Heeze, Netherlands, ⁴Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) suffer from behavioural or neurocognitive problems in addition to muscle weakness. Using DTI, we previously showed reduced white matter FA and increased ADC, especially radial diffusivity, in DMD patients indicating microstructural alterations. We now apply diffusion weighted spectroscopy in temporo-parietal white matter to study if these alterations are likely intracellular or extracellular. N-acetylaspartate, creatine and choline ADCs were higher in patients compared to controls. These results show higher diffusion both within cells and across membranes, irrespective of cell-type.

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