Theodor Rumetshofer1, Francesca Inglese2, Jeroen de Bresser2, Peter Mannfolk3, Olof Strandberg4, Markus Nilsson1, Itamar Ronen2, Andreas Jönsen5, Linda Knutsson6,7, Tom Huizinga8, Gerda Steup-Beekman8, and Pia Sundgren1,9,10
1Clinical Science Lund / Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 2Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, 3Department of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 4Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 5Department of Rheumatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 6Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 7Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, 8Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, 9Department of Clinical Sciences/Centre for Imaging and Function, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 10Lund University BioImaging Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
1Clinical Science Lund / Diagnostic Radiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 2Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, 3Department of Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 4Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 5Department of Rheumatology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 6Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, 7Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, 8Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, 9Department of Clinical Sciences/Centre for Imaging and Function, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 10Lund University BioImaging Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
MRI phenotypes obtained by cluster analysis on White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH) distribution in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can be assigned to a distinct pattern and WM tract. This approach reduces the influence of the total WMH burden and MRI acquisition parameters.
Figure 2 Heatmaps showing the 5 different MRI phenotypes after cluster analysis. Subjects are shown on the x-axis and the JHU WM tracts on the y-axis. HC are shown on the left and are not included in the clustering as well as SLE patients without WMH. (Top) l2-normalized WMH pattern on which the clustering was performed. Non-normalized WMH load sorted by cohorts and clinical labels (Middle) summed lesion burden (Bottom).The colour bars at the top indicate cohorts (Leiden = brown), FLAIR information (3D = pink) and clinical labels (Healthy controls (HC) = green, nonNPSLE = blue, NPSLE = red).
Figure 3 Lesion frequency map for HC and each cluster in MNI-space. WMH in cluster 1 can be mainly assigned to Forceps Major, cluster 2 to right Anterior Thalamic Radiation, cluster 3 to Forceps Minor and 4 to the left Anterior Thalamic Radiation. Cluster 5 cannot be assigned to any specific WMH tract due to high WMH burden. The main WMH which corresponds to the WM tracts (copper colour) are emphasised with red arrows.
