MRI correlates of motoneuron loss in SMA.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently explored as supplemental tool to monitor disease progression and treatment response in various neuromuscular disorders. We here assessed the utility of a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol including quantitative water T mapping, Dixon-based proton density fat fraction (PDFF) estimation and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect loss of spinal motor neurons and subsequent muscle damage in adult SMA patients.

Methods: Sixteen SMA patients and 13 age-matched controls were enrolled in this prospective, longitudinal study.