ABSTRACT

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a method for noninvasively measuring and imaging the diffusion of water molecules using MRI. Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) can be used to presume macroscopic nerve fascicle distribution by determining, based on information obtained by DTI, whether the diffusion anisotropy vectors of adjacent voxels are continuous or not. We prepared a DTT map of the cerebral white matter nerve fascicles and investigated its usefulness for differentiation between Alzheimer’s disease and bipolar disorder (BD), a major depressive disorder, based on the nerve fiber depiction, in addition to the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient values. We encountered two cases of BD in which the DTT image of the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) improved following effective treatment with lamotrigine. Lamotrigine increases the synaptic strength due to its effect of promoting the traffic of the α-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor on the neuronal membrane. Downregulation of postsynaptic AMPA receptor expression can reportedly be observed during depressive episodes in BD. We consider that visualization of improvement of the ATR in response to treatment with lamotrigine (related to its pharmacological effect on the AMPA receptor) is valuable, as it suggests reversibility of the damage of the nerve fibers in this disease condition.

Keywords:

Diffusion Tensor Tractography, Bipolar Disorder, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Anterior Thalamic Radiation

1. Introduction

BD is characterized by a long depressive phase, and particularly in cases with bipolar type 2 disorder in remission, the depressive state exceeds 50% and treatment of the extended depressive state remains an issue [1] [2] . With advances in the field of diagnostic imaging, numerous studies have utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to discuss the white matter integrity in BD, as well shown reduced FA values of the nerve fiber bundles in the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), based on analysis of DTI [3] [4] .

The ATR is a nerve fiber bundle connecting the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus to the prefrontal cortex; it is an important part of the so-called executive function circuit (cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic circuit) which connects the thalamus to the prefrontal cortex [5] .

From our clinical experience, poor ATR visualization is an oft-recognized characteristic of BD on DTT.

In a previous paper, we reported that while the ATR can be visualized well in cases of MDD, it is poorly visualized in cases of AD [6] . In this report, we provide an account of the improvement of the subjective symptoms along with that of MRI visualization of the ATR following appropriate medical treatment in patients with BD with poor MRI visualization of the ATR prior to treatment.

2. Data Acquisition

The anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), cingulate fasciculus (CF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), and Fornix (FX) were selected as the nerve fascicles to be traced. We performed DTT in about 2300 patients during the 6-year period from 2012 to 2018. In this study, the DTI data were transferred to the Philips Extended MR Work Space (Release 2.6.3.2) and analyzed using the Philips Fiber Trak (Release 2.6.3.2; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), a software useful for fiber tracking. The default settings were as follows: step width for nerve fiber tracking: 10 mm; conditions for termination of the fiber tracking: an FA value of <0.15 and a flip angle of >27 degrees. Using the multiple region-of-interest (ROI) approach and based on a tractographic atlas, Include-ROIs (to select fibers perforating the set region) were set up manually [7] . Exclude-ROIs (to exclude fibers perforating the set region) were also set for precluding other immixed nerve fibers.

Although there is involvement of the corticospinal tract and corticopontine tract in the ATR, it is feasible to achieve pure visualization of the ATR excluding fibers of the corticospinal tract and corticopontine tract by setting up an Exclude-ROI encompassing the nerve tracts of the midbrain (Figure 1). We defined the FA value as the average FA value for the entire ATR. The white matter structure peripheral to the ATR was visually assessed. In addition, visual evaluation of the ATR was defined as good when the nerve fiber fascicles of the ATR reached the boundary between the gray matter and white matter, and as poor when not even a single nerve fascicle of the ATR reached that boundary line.

3. Case Presentations

3.1. Case 1: A 57-Year-Old Female Patient

The patient developed symptoms of depression first when she was in her 40’s. She was hospitalized for treatment with symptoms of major depression and suicidal ideation at the age 48 years. She was hospitalized a total of three times. In year X she presented with mania and a return of the depressive state. She began to be treated for BD, but stopped taking her prescribed medication, which led to repeated manic episodes. In X + 4 years, during a major depressive episode, her oral prescription was changed from lithium to lamotrigine, as the patient complained that the lithium was causing edema. In X + 5 years, a repeat MRI showed improved visualization of the ATR. She continued to remain in a stable state, with no manic symptoms. In X + 6 years, her mental condition was still stable under continued monotherapy with 200 mg of lamotrigine.

3.1.1. The Results of Psychological Assessments

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) [8] score was 27 points (full score) at the initial examination, while at the assessment conducted 5 years later, it had improved to 5 points. Assessment of cognition by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) revealed a normal cognitive state, with a score of 30 points.

3.1.2. The Results of MRI Examinations

Visualization of the ATR was poor on the left side in the X year, while it was good in X + 6 years (Table 1) (Figure 2).

3.2. Case 2: A 63-Year-Old Male Patient

The patient had undergone a coronary stent placement after sustaining myocardial infarction at the age of 52 years. He was identified as having BD in the same year during a hospital visit, and was advised to seek psychiatric consultation, although he did not follow the advice.

Abbreviations: ADC, apparent diffusion coefficient; ATR, anterior thalamic radiation; FA, fractional anisotropy.

At the age of 62, he was in a state of major depression. He was started on treatment during the depressed phase of BD. In January, X year, he was given a prescription of lamotrigine 25 mg. When the dose of lamotrigine needed exceeded 100 mg, it was increased directly to 200 mg daily, and then 300 mg daily. Half a year after the treatment was started, the dose was at 300 mg. By X + 9 months later, the patient had recovered from a bedridden state to one where he could perform his daily activities and shop for himself.

3.2.1. The Results of Psychological Assessments

The PHQ9 was 27 points (full score) at the initial examination, while at the assessment conducted after 2 months, it had improved to 23 points, and at the assessment conducted after 1 year, it had improved further to 7 points. Assessment of cognition by the MMSE revealed normal cognitive function, with a score of 30 points.

3.2.2. The Results of MRI Examinations

Visual assessment revealed improvements in both the left and right ATRs (Table 1) (Figure 3).

4. Discussions

4.1. Visual Confirmation of the Reversibility of ATR in Cases of BD

There is a research which reports that the average fractional anisotropy (FA) value of the ATR has decreased in BD [9] .

However, as shown in the previous section, there was no consistency in the FA value and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the ATR (Table 1) in the two BD cases. The FA and ADC values assessed by DTI represent the average state of the nerve fiber bundles that can be tracked. Untracked areas are not included in the evaluation, with the result being that a greater portion of the injured areas of the fiber bundles is not assessed. However, the visual evaluation method based on DTT can be used to visualize the fibers radiating from the thalamus to the surface of the brain―in short, up to the point at which the density of the nerve fiber voxels becomes very low. Consequently, it was possible to capture minute changes in the nerve fibers, and the nerve fibers that could not be captured were considered to be injured. We were able to visually confirm reversibility of the ATR visualization following treatment.

4.2. Pharmacological Effect of Lamotrigine (Association with the AMPA Receptor) and Improvement in Visualization of the Anterior Thalamic Radiation

In the two BD cases, where the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) of DTT was improved, lamotrigine was effective. It has been suggested that neurological dysfunction of the glutamate system is involved in the pathophysiology of BD [10] . Ion channel-type glutamate receptors involved in excitatory neurotransmission are classified into three types: the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), AMPA, and kainic acid receptors [11] . Lamotrigine suppresses the Na channel in a voltage-dependent and frequency-dependent manner, stabilizing the neuronal membranes, with consequent suppression of glutamate release. It exhibits neuroprotective activity through suppression of glutamate release and induction of apoptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex; it has been shown to ameliorate pre-pulse inhibition deficit in an animal model of mania/schizophrenia [12] . Deficit of prepulse inhibition involves dysfunction of the control of sensory-motor information and is considered to be related to impairment of cognitive function due to abnormalities in attention [13] . In addition, the functional performance circuitry, the cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic circuit, is thought to be related to pre-pulse inhibition [14] . Together, these findings suggest improved function of the cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic circuit as a possible reason for the improved visualization of the ATR following treatment with lamotrigine. It has been reported that downregulation of postsynaptic AMPA receptor expression is observed during depressive episodes of BD; in contrast to lithium and valproic acid, lamotrigine increases synaptic strength due to its traffic-promoting activity of the AMPA receptor on the neuronal membrane, and may thereby improve depressive episodes [15] . Synaptic plasticity is related to learning and memory with long-term potentiation and increased efficiency of synaptic conduction due to increased firing of the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic cells which are thought to be involved. Increased expression of postsynaptic AMPA receptors is thought to be important for long-term potentiation [16] .

The current observation of neural plasticity by DTT is considered to be a valuable demonstration of the neuroprotective effect of lamotrigine and of the importance of AMPA receptors. However, it is also important to note reports of the side effects of lamotrigine, including rash, dizziness, diplopia, and lymphadenopathy [17] .

5. Conclusion

In this case series, using MRI based DTT, we have reported poor visualization of the ATR in BD which was not only improved in mental symptoms following appropriate medical treatment but also showed good visualization of the ATR in follow-up MRI examinations. This suggests that poor visualization of the ATR can be identified as an indication of impaired integrity of neuronal myelin of the brain in BD. ATR visualization by DTT, which makes nerve fiber plasticity pathology visible, may also be a useful and convenient method that can be implemented quickly in the clinical setting in the near future.

Informed Consent

Informed consent for participation in the study was obtained from both patients.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Takako Kuniyoshi of Keio University for her encouragement and administrative support.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Niida, R., Uechi, A., Niida, A., Matsuda, H., Yamagata, B. and Mimura, M. (2018) Improved Visualization of the Anterior Thalamic Radiation in Bipolar Disorder by Diffusion Tensor Tractography. Case Reports in Clinical Medicine, 7, 505-512. https://doi.org/10.4236/crcm.2018.79044

References