Objective: We sought to investigate the temporal pattern of iron deposition in  the putamen of patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA)  by calculating conditional probabilities (CPs) of multimodal  MRI changes.

Background: Although iron accumulation is thought to be associated with neurodegenerative processes, the timing of putaminal iron deposition during the disease course of MSA remains unclear.

Method: We simultaneously measured putaminal R2*, volume and MD values of 39 probable MSA patients and 22 control subjects. The presence of significant MRI changes was defined as higher R2* and MD values, or lower volumes than cut-off values derived from mean values in control putamen. The CPs of R2* changes without MD or volume changes were then compared with those of MD or volume changes without R2* changes.

Results: Regardless of the cut-off values, the CPs of R2* increments without MD or volume changes were significantly lower than those for MD or volume changes without R2* increments. The associations of R2* with volume and MD values appeared in non-linear exponential and quadratic patterns, respectively.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that putaminal iron accumulation would occur under volume atrophy or MD increments. Thus, iron deposition in the putamen of MSA patients is likely a secondary byproduct of neurodegeneration.

« Back to 2019 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/speculation-on-the-timing-of-iron-deposition-in-the-putamen-of-patients-with-multiple-system-atrophy-multimodal-mri-study/