Alterations of the optic pathway between unilateral and bilateral optic nerve damage in multiple sclerosis as revealed by the combined use of advanced diffusion kurtosis imaging and visual evoked potentials

Objectives We investigated changes in the optic tract and optic radiation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by comparing unilateral and bilateral optic nerve damage assessed based on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) using advanced diffusion MR metrics. Methods In 21 MS patients, diffusion MRI was performed. Maps of fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and mean kurtosis (MK) were computed. On the basis of the P100 latency in VEPs, the MS patients were divided into three groups: bilateral (n = 7), unilateral (n = 7), and no abnormality (n = 7). Their optic tracts and optic radiations were analyzed with diffusion MRI-based fiber tracking. We also investigated the correlations between diffusion parameters and VEPs (n = 21). Results In the optic tract, the diffusion changes in each of the three groups showed step-like changes. The diffusion changes in the optic radiations of the unilateral group were similar to those in the normal VEP group. Only the bilateral group showed significantly higher ADC and lower MK relative to the other two groups (P < 0.05, Steel–Dwass multiple-comparison test). A significant positive correlation between VEP latency and ADC and a significant negative correlation between VEP latency and MK were observed (P < 0.01, Spearman's correction). Conclusions We first evaluated the relationship between VEPs and DKI and concluded that the lateral geniculate nucleus may compensate for unilateral damage in the pre-geniculate optic pathway via neural plasticity.