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Abstract
Objective: To investigate functional connectivity of the visual resting-state network (V-RSN) in normal-sighted relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with and without previous optic neuritis (ON).
Methods: Thirty normal-sighted RRMS patients, 16 without (nON-MS) and 14 with (ON-MS) previous ON, and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent a neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation, including automated perimetry and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurement, as well as an MRI protocol, including structural and resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) sequences. Functional connectivity of the V-RSN was evaluated by independent component analysis (ICA). Regional gray matter atrophy was assessed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM). A correlation analysis was performed between RS-fMRI results and clinical, neuro-ophthalmologic, and structural MRI variables.
Results: Compared to HCs, patients with RRMS showed a reduced functional connectivity in the peristriate visual cortex, bilaterally. Compared to nON-MS, ON-MS patients revealed a region of stronger functional connectivity in the extrastriate cortex, at the level of right lateral middle occipital gyrus, as well as a region of reduced functional connectivity at the level of right inferior peristriate cortex. These latter changes correlated with the number of previous ON. All detected V-RSN changes did not colocalize with regional gray matter atrophy.
Conclusions: Normal-sighted RRMS patients show a significant functional disconnection in the V-RSN. RRMS patients recovered from a previous ON show a complex reorganization of the V-RSN, including an increased functional connectivity at the level of extrastriate visual areas.
GLOSSARY
- EDSS=
- Expanded Disability Status Scale;
- FLAIR=
- fluid-attenuated inversion recovery;
- FOV=
- field of view;
- FSE=
- fast spin echo;
- GM=
- gray matter;
- HC=
- healthy control;
- ICA=
- independent component analysis;
- LOC=
- lateral occipital complex;
- MD=
- mean deviation;
- MS=
- multiple sclerosis;
- nON-MS=
- RRMS without previous ON;
- ON=
- optic neuritis;
- ON-MS=
- RRMS with previous ON;
- RL-MOG=
- right lateral middle occipital gyrus;
- RNFL=
- retinal nerve fiber layer;
- RRMS=
- relapsing-remitting MS;
- RS=
- resting-state;
- RSN=
- RS network;
- SLP=
- scanning laser polarimetry;
- TE=
- echo time;
- TI=
- inversion time;
- TIV=
- total intracranial volume;
- TR=
- repetition time;
- V-RSN=
- visual resting-state network;
- VBM=
- voxel-based morphometry;
- VEP=
- visual evoked potential
Footnotes
Study funding: Supported by the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (FISM).
Editorial, page 1418
Supplemental data at www.neurology.org
- Received November 27, 2011.
- Accepted April 10, 2012.
- Copyright © 2012 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
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