Similar but not the same: methods and applications of quantitative MRI to study muscular dystrophies

Veeger, T.T.J. (2023)

Doctoral Thesis

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD, respectively) are characterized by progressive loss of muscle function combined with an increase in fat tissue in muscle⁠. In some muscles this process of ‘fat replacement’ starts earlier or progresses faster than in others and this occurs in a consistent temporal pattern⁠. In addition, even within muscles fat replacement seems to progress heterogeneously⁠. Evidently there are factors that vary between and within muscles which cause differential fat replacement of muscle tissue, but these are currently unknown⁠. The identification of factors that influence this process of muscle degeneration could support the selection of current, and the development of future, therapies⁠.
The aim of part 1 of this thesis was to identify differences between muscles that are related to muscle fat replacement over time⁠. These can provide therapeutical targets for, and support the design of, future clinical trials in DMD and BMD⁠. Part 2 aimed to develop new approaches to study intramuscular differences in muscle physiology and mechanics in healthy muscle⁠. These can be applied in neuromuscular disease in the future, and can be related to intramuscular differences in disease progression⁠.

• Skeletal muscle
• Muscle dystrophy
• Fat replacement
• Exercise
• Quantitative
• MRI
• Dixon
• Arterial Spin Labeling
• Phase-Contrast MRI
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging

• All authors: Veeger, T.T.J.
• Supervisor: Kan, H.E.; Webb, A.G.
• Co-supervisor: Groot, J.H. de
• Committee: Osch, M.J.P. van; Claeys, K.G.; Harlaar, J.; Westenberg, J.J.M.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2023-05-04
• Sponsorship: The research was mostly funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO; research program VIDI, project number 917⁠.164⁠.90)⁠. Other supporting grants were from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (113302001), NWO research program VICI with project number 016⁠.160⁠.351, Dutch Technology Foundation TTW (DIMASK #15500) and Amsterdam Movement Sciences grant⁠.