• Tim Godel, Philipp Bäumer, Mirko Pham, Anja Köhn, Nicole Muschol, Moritz Kronlage, Jennifer Kollmer, Sabine Heiland, Martin Bendszus, and Victor-Felix Mautner.
• From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.P., M.K., J.K., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Department of Radiology (P.B.), German Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg; Department of Neuroradiology (M.P.), Würzburg University Hospital; Department of Pediatrics (A.K., N.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; and Department of Neurology (V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. tim.godel@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
• Neurology. 2017 Sep 19; 89 (12): 1274-1282.

ObjectiveTo evaluate functional and morphometric magnetic resonance neurography of the dorsal root ganglion and peripheral nerve segments in patients with Fabry painful neuropathy.MethodsIn this prospective study, the lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia and proximal peripheral nerve segments of the lower extremity were examined in 11 male patients with Fabry disease by a standardized 3T magnetic resonance neurography protocol. Volumes of L3 to S2 dorsal root ganglia, perfusion parameters of L5-S1 dorsal root ganglia and the spinal nerve L5, and the cross-sectional area of the proximal sciatic nerve were compared to healthy controls.ResultsDorsal root ganglia of patients with Fabry disease were symmetrically enlarged by 78% (L3), 94% (L4), 122% (L5), 115% (S1), and 119% (S2) (p < 0.001). In addition, permeability of the blood-tissue interface was decreased by 53% (p < 0.001). This finding was most pronounced in the peripheral zone of the dorsal root ganglion containing the cell bodies of the primary sensory neurons (p < 0.001). Spinal nerve permeability showed no difference between patients with Fabry disease and controls (p = 0.7). The sciatic nerve of patients with Fabry disease at the thigh level showed an increase in cross-sectional area by 48% (p < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with Fabry disease have severely enlarged dorsal root ganglia with dysfunctional perfusion. This may be due to glycolipid accumulation in the dorsal root ganglia mediating direct neurotoxic effects and decreased neuronal blood supply. These alterations were less pronounced in peripheral nerve segments. Thus, the dorsal root ganglion might play a key pathophysiologic role in the development of neuropathy and pain in Fabry disease.© 2017 American Academy of Neurology.

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