Brain MRI study CFS -Evidence Brainstem Dysfunction & Altered Homeostasis

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http://bit.ly/ry6nMM

NMR in Biomedicine

Research Article

A brain MRI study of chronic

fatigue syndrome: evidence

of brainstem dysfunction and

altered homeostasis

Leighton R. Barnden1,2,*, Crouch1,

Kwiatek3, Burnet4, Anacleto Mernone1, Steve

Chryssidis5, Garry Scroop6, Del Fante7

Article first published online: 11 MAY 2011

DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1692

Copyright © 2011 Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

(Foto: Brain MRI study CFS)

Abstract

To explore brain involvement in chronic fatigue syndrome

(CFS), the statistical parametric mapping of brain MR

images has been extended to voxel-based regressions

against clinical scores.

Using SPM5 we performed voxel-based morphometry (VBM)

and analysed T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo MR signal

levels in 25 CFS subjects and 25 normal controls (NC).

Clinical scores included CFS fatigue duration, a score based

on the 10 most common CFS symptoms, the Bell score,

the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) anxiety

and depression, and hemodynamic parameters from 24-h

blood pressure monitoring.

We also performed group×hemodynamic score interaction

regressions to detect locations where MR regressions were

opposite for CFS and NC, thereby indicating abnormality in

the CFS group.

In the midbrain, white matter volume was observed to

decrease with increasing fatigue duration.

For T1-weighted MR and white matter volume,

group×hemodynamic score interactions were detected in

the brainstem [strongest in midbrain grey matter (GM)],

deep prefrontal white matter (WM), the caudal basal pons

and hypothalamus.

A strong correlation in CFS between brainstem GM volume

and pulse pressure suggested impaired cerebrovascular

autoregulation.

It can be argued that at least some of these changes could

arise from astrocyte dysfunction.

These results are consistent with an insult to the midbrain at

fatigue onset that affects multiple feedback control loops to

suppress cerebral motor and cognitive activity and disrupt

local CNS homeostasis, including resetting of some

elements of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Copyright © 2011 Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keywords: voxel based; CFS;MRI; regression; interaction;

brainstem; homeostasis; autonomic nervous system

Full Article PDF: http://bit.ly/rvMQtT