Presymptomatic genetic testing in CADASIL

Genetic counselling has been poorly investigated in cerebrovascular diseases. Characteristics, motivations and long-term outcome of presymptomatic tests (PT) in subjects at risk of CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) were investigated at the National Centre for Rare Vascular Diseases of the Brain and/or Retina (CERVCO). Sociodemographic, motivational and psychological variables were collected between 2003 and 2010 for PT applicants. Multidisciplinary consultations (with a geneticist, neurologist and psychologist) were proposed over a 6 month period. When PT showed a deleterious mutation of the NOTCH3 gene, cognitive performances, mood, autonomy and quality of life were also assessed. Over 7 years, only 33 subjects asked for a PT of CADASIL. They were predominantly women, lived as a couple, had children and were of high sociocultural level. The dropout rate after the first step of the procedure was 63%. The characteristics of the 11 subjects who reached the end of the procedure did not differ from the 22 who dropped out. Six were carriers of the deleterious mutation and were still asymptomatic after a mean follow-up of 19 months. They did not experience any particular negative event and all of them indicated a high score of overall quality of life. Indeed, two carriers gave birth to their first child. These initial data in CADASIL show that PT is rarely requested and that there is a high dropout rate. Our study also highlights that a multidisciplinary and multistep procedure in genetic counselling testing appears useful to obtain minimal harmful consequences of genetic testing.

Paediatric moyamoya in mainland France: a comprehensive survey of academic neuropaediatric centres

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological data of paediatric moyamoya disease/syndrome (MMD/MMS) in non-Asian populations are scarce.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to every French neuropaediatric academic centre to estimate the prevalence, incidence, familial form rate and location of paediatric MMD/MMS cases. Specific paediatric data were also retrieved from the most recent nationwide Japanese study.

RESULTS

A 100% response rate was obtained. The prevalence of paediatric MMD/MMS was estimated at 0.39/100,000 children (95% CI: 0.28-0.49), and the incidence was estimated at 0.065/100,000 children/year (95% CI: 0.025-0.12), with 7.5% familial cases. The prevalence was homogenous within the different administrative areas.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive survey of MMD/MMS in academic neuropaediatric centres suggests that the prevalence of the disease in children in France is approximately 1/20th of that estimated in Asia.

Apathy is related to cortex morphology in CADASIL. A sulcal-based morphometry study

OBJECTIVES

Apathy is a debilitating symptom in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), the pathophysiology of which remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroanatomic correlates of apathy, using new MRI postprocessing methods based on the identification of cortical sulci, in a large cohort of patients with CADASIL.

METHODS

A total of 132 patients with genetically confirmed diagnosis were included in this prospective cohort study. Global cognitive performances were assessed by the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) and disability by the modified Rankin score (mRS). Apathy was defined according to standard criteria. Depth, width, and cortical thickness of 10 large sulci of the frontal lobe in each hemisphere were measured. Logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the links between apathy and cortical thickness, depth, or width of the different sulci. All models were adjusted for age, gender, level of education, MDRS, mRS, depression, and global brain volume.

RESULTS

Complete MRI datasets of high quality were available in 119 patients. Depth of the posterior cingulate sulcus exhibited the strongest association with apathy in fully adjusted models (right: p value = 0.0006; left: p value = 0.004). Depth and width of cortical sulci in mediofrontal and orbitofrontal areas were independently associated with apathy. By contrast, cortical thickness was not.

CONCLUSIONS

Cortical morphology in mediofrontal and orbitofrontal areas, by contrast to cortical thickness, is strongly and independently associated with apathy. These results suggest that apathy is related to a reduction of cortical surface rather than of cortical thickness secondary to lesion accumulation in CADASIL.

Frequency and location of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces in elderly people: a population-based 3D MR imaging study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

dVRS have been previously associated with aging and cerebrovascular diseases. However, little is known about their prevalence and topographic distribution in the general elderly population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

dVRS were evaluated by using high-resolution 3D MR imaging in 1826 subjects enrolled in the 3C-Dijon MR imaging study. On T1-weighted MR imaging, dVRS were detected according to 3D imaging criteria and rated by using 4-level severity scores based in the BG or in the WM. The number and anatomic location of large dVRS (≥3 mm) were recorded.

RESULTS

dVRS were observed in the BG or WM in every subject. The severity of dVRS was significantly associated with higher age in both the BG and WM, whereas sex was related to the severity of dVRS only in the BG. Large dVRS were detected in 33.2% of participants. Status cribrosum was found in 1.3% of participants. dVRS were also highly prevalent within the hippocampus (44.5%) and hypothalamus (11.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

dVRS are always detected in the BG or WM in elderly people, and large dVRS are also prevalent. The topographic distribution of dVRS is not uniform within the brain and may depend on anatomic or pathologic characteristics interacting with aging and sex.

Design, data management, and population baseline characteristics of the PERFORM magnetic resonance imaging project

Quantitative information from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may substantiate clinical findings and provide additional insight into the mechanism of clinical interventions in therapeutic stroke trials. The PERFORM study is exploring the efficacy of terutroban versus aspirin for secondary prevention in patients with a history of ischemic stroke. We report on the design of an exploratory longitudinal MRI follow-up study that was performed in a subgroup of the PERFORM trial. An international multi-centre longitudinal follow-up MRI study was designed for different MR systems employing safety and efficacy readouts: new T2 lesions, new DWI lesions, whole brain volume change, hippocampal volume change, changes in tissue microstructure as depicted by mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy, vessel patency on MR angiography, and the presence of and development of new microbleeds. A total of 1,056 patients (men and women ≥ 55 years) were included. The data analysis included 3D reformation, image registration of different contrasts, tissue segmentation, and automated lesion detection. This large international multi-centre study demonstrates how new MRI readouts can be used to provide key information on the evolution of cerebral tissue lesions and within the macrovasculature after atherothrombotic stroke in a large sample of patients.

CADASIL

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a dominantly inherited small artery disease that leads to dementia and disability in mid-life. The clinical presentation of CADASIL is variable between and within affected families and is characterized by symptoms including migraine with aura, subcortical ischemic events, mood disturbances, apathy, and cognitive impairment. The mean age at onset of symptoms is 45 years, with variable duration of the disease ranging from 10 to 40 years. In 1996, linkage studies mapped and identified mutations in the NOTCH3 gene on chromosome 19 as causative in CADASIL. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is always abnormal in participants with NOTCH3 mutations after age 35. Magnetic resonance imaging shows on T2-weighted images or fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence, widespread areas of increased signal in the white matter associated with focal hyperintensities in basal ganglia, thalamus, and brainstem. The pathologic hallmark of CADASIL is the presence of electron-dense granules in the media of arterioles that can be identified by electron microscopic evaluation of skin biopsies.

Relationship between baseline white-matter changes and development of late-life depressive symptoms: 3-year results from the LADIS study

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that cerebral white-matter changes and depressive symptoms are linked directly along the causal pathway. We investigated whether baseline severity of cerebral white-matter changes predict longer-term future depressive outcomes in a community sample of non-disabled older adults.

METHOD

In the Leukoaraiosis and Disability in the Elderly (LADIS) study, a longitudinal multi-centre pan-European study, 639 older subjects underwent baseline structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments. Baseline severity of white-matter changes was quantified volumetrically. Depressive outcomes were assessed in terms of depressive episodes and depressive symptoms, as measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Subjects were clinically reassessed annually for up to 3 years. Regression models were constructed to determine whether baseline severity of white-matter changes predicted future depressive outcomes, after controlling for confounding factors.

RESULTS

Baseline severity of white-matter changes independently predicted depressive symptoms at both 2 (p<0.001) and 3 years (p=0.015). Similarly, white-matter changes predicted incident depression (p=0.02). Over the study period the population became significantly more disabled (p<0.001). When regression models were adjusted to account for the influence of the prospective variable transition to disability, baseline severity of white-matter changes no longer predicted depressive symptoms at 3 years (p=0.09) or incident depression (p=0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the vascular depression hypothesis and strongly implicate white-matter changes in the pathogenesis of late-life depression. Furthermore, the findings indicate that, over time, part of the relationship between white-matter changes and depression may be mediated by loss of functional activity.

Deep frontal and periventricular age related white matter changes but not basal ganglia and infratentorial hyperintensities are associated with falls: cross sectional results from the LADIS study

BACKGROUND

Global age related white matter changes (ARWMC) are associated with progressive gait disturbances and falls, hypothesised to result from interruptions of cortico-subcortical circuits controlling balance, posture and locomotion.

METHODS

The location of ARWMC in a large cohort of elderly non-disabled individuals with reported falls was analysed, using the cross sectional data of the Leukoaraiosis and Disability (LADIS) study. Detailed anatomical distributions of ARWMC assessed by MRI studies were analysed with respect to falls and balance performance.

RESULTS

The severity of global ARWMC was significantly associated with a history of falls in the year prior to study inclusion (22.2% in the mild, 31.6% in the moderate and 37.3% in the severe ARWMC group according to the Fazekas scale; p = 0.002). Analysing the anatomical distribution of ARWMC, using the semiquantitative Scheltens scale, in multivariate analysis, periventricular (p = 0.006) and frontal deep (p = 0.033) ARWMC were independently associated with falls. Furthermore, logistic regression identified frontal deep (p = 0.003) ARWMC, but not basal ganglia and infratentorial hyperintensities, as significantly associated with balance disturbances.

CONCLUSION

The association of frontal and periventricular ARWMC with falls supports the hypothesis that interruption of frontal subcortical motor circuits lead to balance disturbances and hence to an increased risk for falls in ARWMC.

Location of lacunar infarcts correlates with cognition in a sample of non-disabled subjects with age-related white-matter changes: the LADIS study

OBJECTIVES

In cerebral small vessel disease, white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) and lacunes are both related to cognition. Still, their respective contribution in older people remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to assess the topographic distribution of lacunes and determine whether it has an impact on cognitive functions in a sample of non-disabled patients with age-related white-matter changes.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the baseline evaluation of the LADIS (Leucoaraioisis and Disability study) cohort of non-disabled subjects beyond 65 years of age. The neuropsychological evaluation was based on the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), a modified Alzheimer Diseases Assessment Scale for global cognitive functions, and compound Z scores for memory, executive functions, speed and motor control. WMH were rated according to the Fazekas scale; the number of lacunes was assessed in the following areas: lobar white matter, putamen/pallidum, thalamus, caudate nucleus, internal/external capsule, infratentorial areas. An analysis of covariance was performed after adjustment for possible confounders.

RESULTS

Among 633 subjects, 47% had at least one lacune (31% at least one within basal ganglia). The presence of lacunes in the thalamus was associated with lower scores of MMSE (beta = -0.61; p = 0.043), and worse compound scores for speed and motor control (beta = -0.25; p = 0.006), executive functions (beta = -0.19; p = 0.022) independently of the cognitive impact of WMH. There was also a significant negative association between the presence of lacunes in putamen/pallidum and the memory compound Z score (beta = -0.13; p = 0.038). By contrast, no significant negative association was found between cognitive parameters and the presence of lacunes in internal capsule, lobar white matter and caudate nucleus.

CONCLUSION

In non-disabled elderly subjects with leucoaraisosis, the location of lacunes within subcortical grey matter is a determinant of cognitive impairment, independently of the extent of WMH.

Vascular risk factors and morphometric data in cervical artery dissection: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Limited knowledge exists on vascular risk factors, body height and weight in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, major vascular risk factors, body weight, body height and body mass index (BMI) of 239 patients obtained from a prospective hospital-based sCAD registry were compared with 516 age- and sex-matched healthy controls undergoing systematic health examinations in the Clinical and Preventive Investigations Center, Paris. Gender-specific analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The mean body height was higher in sCAD patients than in controls (171.3 cm (SD 8.6) vs 167.7 cm (8.9); p<0.0001) and sCAD patients had a significantly lower mean body weight (67.5 (12.2) kg vs 69.3 (14.6) kg; p<0.001) and mean BMI (22.9 (3.3) kg/m2 vs 24.5 (4.2) kg/m2; p<0.0001) than controls. The overall frequency of hypertension, diabetes, current smoking, past smoking and hypercholesterolaemia did not differ significantly between sCAD patients and controls. The mean total plasma cholesterol level was identical in both groups (5.5 mmol/l, SD 1.1). Gender specific subgroup analyses showed similar results for men and women.

CONCLUSION

Patients with sCAD had a higher body height and a lower body weight and BMI than controls, while major vascular risk factors were similar in sCAD patients and controls.

MR imaging features of isolated cortical vein thrombosis: diagnosis and follow-up

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To our knowledge, very few MR imaging data have been reported in isolated cortical venous thrombosis (ICoVT). The purpose of this study was to describe MR imaging features, including T2*gradient-echo (GE) sequence, in presumed ICoVT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MR imaging examinations were performed in 8 patients with ICoVT (MR venography was performed in all patients and digital substraction angiography in 4) at the time of diagnosis and during the follow-up at 15 days (4 patients) and at 3 (8 patients), 6 (6 patients), 12 (3 patients), and 18 months (1 patient). We assessed the presence of a magnetic susceptibility effect (MSE) on T2*GE imaging at each site of cerebral venous thrombosis and the presence or absence of a normal flow void and iso-, hypo-, or hyperintense signal intensity on T1, T2, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. Parenchymal signal-intensity changes were also assessed on the same sequences.

RESULTS

MSE was detected on T2*GE imaging at the site of a cortical vein in all subjects at the first MR imaging examination. The occluded vein appeared as hyperintense in 3 patients, iso- to slightly hyperintense in 1 on T1, hypointense in 6 on FLAIR images, and as signal-intensity loss on DWI in 3. At follow-up, persisting signal-intensity abnormalities on T2*GE imaging were detected at the venous sites in all patients, whereas signal-intensity changes on T1- and T2-weighted images were no longer present. Parenchymal hyperintensities on FLAIR and DWI (increased apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]) were observed in close vicinity to the thrombosis in 6/8 patients. Petechial hemorrhages (n = 3) or hematoma (n = 2) was present on T2*GE imaging in 5/8 patients. During the follow-up, all cerebral tissue signal-intensity changes on T1, T2, and FLAIR images decreased both in volume and intensity. ADC values normalized within the tissue after 3 months in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

On T2*GE imaging, MSE of hemoglobin products within the thrombus was observed both at the early and late phases of ICoVT and appears to be of high diagnostic value compared with the other signal intensity changes detected on standard MR imaging.

Self-perceived memory impairment and cognitive performance in an elderly independent population with age-related white matter changes

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether self-perceived memory impairment is associated with the severity of white matter changes (WMC) and is related to cognitive impairment.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the multinational Leukoaraiosis and Disability Study (LADIS), which investigates the impact of WMC on global functioning. WMC severity was rated using the Fazekas scale. Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) was scored visually and mean values were calculated. The neuropsychological battery consisted of the Mini-Mental State Examination, a modified version of the VADAS-Cog, Trail making and Stroop tests. A question about self-perceived memory impairment was used as a measure for presence of memory complaints. Cognitive performance was analysed test-by-test and in three main domains: memory, executive functions and speed/motor control. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used as a measure of depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Six hundred and thirty-eight subjects were included in this study. No association was found between memory complaints and the severity of WMC. Subjects with memory complaints (n = 399) had a higher GDS score [t((637)) = -7.15; p<0.02] and performed worse on almost all cognitive tests and on the three cognitive domains. Multiple linear regression showed that the worse performance on the memory domain was associated with memory complaints independently of depressive symptoms, WMC severity and MTA (R(2) = 0.183; F = 17.09, beta = -0.126; p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In a sample of non-disabled elderly subjects with WMC, self-perceived memory impairment is significantly associated with objective memory impairment independently of the WMC severity, depressive symptoms and MTA.

Dilative arteriopathy and basilar artery dolichoectasia complicating late-onset Pompe disease

BACKGROUND

Strokes related to intracranial aneurysm or arteriopathy have been reported in a few patients with late-onset Pompe disease. These reports suggested that cerebral vessel involvement could be an underrecognized complication of this disease.

METHODS

We report cerebral artery involvement in three French patients with late-onset Pompe disease.

RESULTS

The first patient died at age 35 years from complications of a giant fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery, and her 34-year-old sister showed evidence of dolichoectatic basilar artery on magnetic resonance angiography. A dilative arteriopathy complicated with carotid artery dissection was diagnosed in the third patient, aged 50 years. Two patients are currently being treated with enzyme replacement therapy (alglucosidase alfa), and regular angiographic follow-up showed the absence of progression of vascular abnormalities in one of them.

CONCLUSION

These observations, combined with previously reported cases, confirm that Pompe disease should be recognized as a predisposing condition to dilative arteriopathy and cerebral aneurysm formation, although the real incidence of these vascular complications remains unknown.

Association of gait and balance disorders with age-related white matter changes: the LADIS study

OBJECTIVE

In the Leukoaraiosis and Disability (LADIS) Study, 11 European centers are evaluating the role of age-related white matter changes (ARWMC) as an independent determinant of the transition to disability in the elderly (65 to 84 years). We aimed at determining the influence of ARWMC on different objective measures of gait and balance.

METHODS

Six hundred thirty-nine nondisabled individuals were prospectively enrolled and are being followed-up for 3 years. Subjects are graded in three standardized categories of ARWMC (mild, moderate, and severe) according to central MRI reading. Quantitative tests of gait and balance include the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB; range: 0 [poor] to 12 [normal]), a timed 8-m walk, and a timed single leg stance test.

RESULTS

In cross-sectional analysis, deficiencies in gait and balance performance were correlated with the severity of ARWMC (SPPB: 10.2 +/- 2.1 in the mild, 9.9 +/- 2.0 in the moderate, 8.9 +/- 2.6 in the severe group; p < 0.001). Walking speed correlated with the severity of ARWMC (1.24 +/- 0.28 m/second in the mild, 1.18 +/- 0.32 m/second in the moderate, and 1.09 +/- 0.31 m/second in the severe group; p < 0.001). Balance was best in individuals with mild ARWMC (single leg stance time: 18.9 +/- 10.8 seconds) compared with moderate and severe ARWMC (16.4 +/- 10.8 and 13.6 +/- 11.2 seconds) (p < 0.001). Physically inactive individuals had a higher risk of a pathologic SPPB score (moderate vs mild ARWMC: odds ratio 1.60, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.52; severe vs mild ARWMC: odds ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.80).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support a strong association between the severity of age-related white matter changes and the severity of gait and motor compromise. Physical activity might have the potential to reduce the risk of limitations in mobility.

White matter changes and late-life depressive symptoms: longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests a link between cerebral age-related white matter changes and depressive symptoms in older people, although the temporal association remains unclear.

AIMS

To investigate age-related white matter changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an independent predictor of depressive symptoms at 1 year after controlling for known confounders.

METHOD

In a pan-European multicentre study of 639 older adults without significant disability, MRI white matter changes and demographic and clinical variables, including cognitive scores, quality of life, disability and depressive symptoms, were assessed at baseline. Clinical assessments were repeated at 1 year.

RESULTS

Using logistic regression analysis, severity of white matter changes was shown to independently and significantly predict depressive symptoms at 1 year after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, quality of life and worsening disability (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

White matter changes pre-date and are associated with the development of depressive symptoms. This has implications for treatment and prevention of depression in later life.

Lacunar lesions are independently associated with disability and cognitive impairment in CADASIL

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary arteriopathy caused by mutations of the Notch3 gene. The disease is characterized by T2-hyperintense lesions (subcortical white matter lesions), T1-hypointense lesions (lacunar lesions), and T2*-weighted gradient-echo (GE) lesions (cerebral microhemorrhages [CMs]) visualized on clinical MRI sequences and is considered as a model of "pure" subcortical ischemic vascular dementia. Although numerous studies have investigated the impact of white matter lesions in patients with CADASIL, the clinical importance of lacunar lesions remains unknown. Our purpose was to examine the influence of the visible MRI markers in the disease, including the load of lacunar lesions on cognitive impairment and disability in CADASIL.

METHODS

We collected clinical data from 147 consecutive patients enrolled in an ongoing two-center prospective cohort study. Degree of disability was assessed by modified Rankin scale and Barthel index. Degree of cognitive impairment was assessed by Mattis Dementia Rating Scale and Mini-Mental Status Examination. T1-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and GE images were obtained on a 1.5-T MRI. Volume and location of lacunar lesions, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and CMs were assessed.

RESULTS

There was a significant independent association between age, volume of lacunar lesions, and global cognitive function scales when analyzed in a multivariable model. In contrast, WMHs and CMs had no independent influence on cognitive function. Disability in this cohort was associated with volume of lacunar lesions, CMs, systolic blood pressure, and age but not with WMHs.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the lesions observed on conventional MRI in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), the overall lacunar lesion burden seems to have the most important impact on cognitive function and disability. These findings suggest that preventive strategies to decrease the risk of lacunar lesions as observed on MRI may reduce disease-related impairment in CADASIL. These results suggest that lacunar lesions may also play a key role in disability and cognitive impairment in more common forms of small-vessel disease.