Macroscale imaging: a potential biomarker for post stroke functional outcome?

To determine whether long-term functional outcomes in stroke patients can be predicted by the amount of acutely damaged white matter tracts. We collected acute behavioral and neuroimaging data from a group of first-time stroke patients and add those from the other(s) databases. (n=114 + n) within one week (check with the other DBs) post-stroke. Functional outcome was telephonically evaluated using the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 at 12 months post-stroke. For each patient, we calculated the absolute number of white matter tracts affected by the ischemic lesion from our anatomical scans. We measured a numerical index that considers white matter tract density (WMTD index). We compared the ability of the WMTD index, considered individually, or within a series of prediction models including demographics and behavioral data), to predict chronic outcome. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the quality of prediction of the most informative model.

To determine whether long-term functional outcomes in stroke patients can be predicted by the amount of acutely damaged white matter tracts. We collected acute behavioral and neuroimaging data from a group of first-time stroke patients and add those from the other(s) databases. (n=114 + n) within one week (check with the other DBs) post-stroke. Functional outcome was telephonically evaluated using the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 at 12 months post-stroke. For each patient, we calculated the absolute number of white matter tracts affected by the ischemic lesion from our anatomical scans. We measured a numerical index that considers white matter tract density (WMTD index). We compared the ability of the WMTD index, considered individually, or within a series of prediction models including demographics and behavioral data), to predict chronic outcomes. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the quality of prediction of the most informative model.