Barbara H. Janssen1,
Nicoline B.M. Voet2, Alexander C. Geurts2, George W.
Padberg3, Baziel G. van Engelen3, Arend Heerschap1
1Radiology,
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Gelderland,
Netherlands; 2rehabilitation, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre,
Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands; 3Neurology, Radboud University
Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common neuromuscular dystrophies. As in other muscular dystrophies inflammation is suspected to play a key role in the progression of muscle dysfunction. To study the role of inflammation in FSHD we performed a qualitative and quantitative assessment of TIRM and T1 weighted images collected at baseline and after a control period of four months. We found an increase in signal intensity of the T1 weighted images (i.e.; increased fatty infiltration) in muscles with early inflammation (i.e; hyperintensities on TIRM).