AUTHOR=Yan Jueyue , Wang Yu , Miao Hanpei , Kwapong William Robert , Lu Yi , Ma Qingkai , Chen Wei , Tu Yunhai , Liu Xiaozheng
TITLE=Alterations in the Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity in Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience
VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2019
YEAR=2020
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2019.01362
DOI=10.3389/fnins.2019.01362
ISSN=1662-453X
ABSTRACT=PurposeTo investigate the mechanisms underlying the gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) changes in aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients.
MethodsThis cross-sectional study consisted of 21 patients with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMOSD and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and testing each individual’s visual acuity was done.
ResultsNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients showed significantly reduced GMV in the left calcarine, left thalamus and right lingual gyrus of the NMOSD patients when compared to HC (P < 0.05). NMOSD patients showed significantly decreased FC values (P < 0.05) in both the left and right calcarine, right lingual gyrus and left thalamus, respectively, when compared to HC. We also observed a positive correlation between the FC values of the left thalamus, bilateral calcarine gyrus and the visual acuity, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a negative association was seen between the duration of the disease, frequency of optic neuritis, and the FC values in the lingual gyrus, bilateral calcarine gyrus, and right lingual gyrus, respectively (P < 0.05).
ConclusionReduced visual acuity and frequency of optic neuritis are associated with alterations in the GMV and FC in NMOSD. Our current study, which provides imaging evidence on the impairment involved in NMOSD, sheds light on pathophysiological responses of optic neuritis attack on the brain especially on the visual network.