Reduced white matter integrity in primary open-angle glaucoma: A DTI study using tract-based spatial statistics

Summary Background and purpose The present study was designed to map the alteration of white matter in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by applying tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from MRI brain scans were collected from 15 POAG patients and 15 gender- and age-matched non-glaucoma controls using a SIEMENS Trio 3.0-Tesla scanner. For the white-matter analysis, DTI images were processed using FSL software ( http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/index.html ). Fractional anisotropy (FA) between the POAG and control groups was compared by TBSS analysis corrected for multiple comparisons using threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE). Results Compared with non-glaucoma subjects, the occipital white matter in POAG patients had significantly lower FA values ( p < 0.05, corrected). Conclusion The change in white-matter FA may indicate atrophy of the visual cortex that may be important in the diagnosis and treatment of POAG patients.