Yaou Liu MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yunyun Duan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kuncheng Li MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the whole brain functional connectivity (FC) changes between patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO).

Resting-state fMRIs were collected from twenty-seven MS patients, 27 NMO patients and 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) at a 3T MRI scanner. Whole brain functional connectivity (FC) in 90 brain regions was compared to investigate the difference among the three groups. 

109 functional connectivities were identified significantly different among the three groups. MS patients showed 20 altered functional connectivities compared with HC, while 12 with increased and 8 with decreased connectivities. The increased functional connectivities in MS mainly located in frontal lobe, while the decreased functional connectivities were between thalamus and cortical regions in temporary and occipital lobes. The NMO showed 44 significantly increased functional connectivities compared with HC and 65 increased functional connectivities compared with MS, mainly between deep grey matter such as amydala, caudate, parahippocampus and widespread cortical regions. 

Different whole brain functional connectivity pattern were observed between the patients with MS and NMO. Functional damage and plasticity coexist in MS, while NMO patients show more widespread functional reorganization than MS patients.

This study revealed different whole brain functional connectivity pattern in MS and NMO. It helps understand the different pathophisiological basis of the two diseases.

Liu, Y, Duan, Y, Li, K, Whole Brain Functional Connectivity Changes in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14014810.html