Dataset Information

Correlation between nerve atrophy, brain grey matter volume and pain severity in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent neuroimaging studies have reported grey matter alterations in primary trigeminal neuralgia patients. However, few studies have focused on quantitative measurements of trigeminal nerves and the interaction between trigeminal nerve volume and brain morphology, particularly grey matter volume. In this study, we investigated the link between trigeminal nerves and grey matter volume changes in primary trigeminal neuralgia patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we explored the association of structure of trigeminal nerves and grey matter to collected pain clinical variables.

Methods

Eighty participants (40 patients and 40 controls) were recruited for the study. All participants underwent MRI sessions and clinical pain assessment. Trigeminal nerve volume and whole brain grey matter volume were evaluated using quantitative imaging techniques. Sensory and affective pain rating indices were assessed using the visual analog scale and short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between clinical pain variables and volumetric changes in trigeminal nerves and grey matter.

Results

Decreased trigeminal nerve volume was detected in primary trigeminal neuralgia patients compared to controls. Additionally, reduced grey matter volume was found in several regions associated with pain in primary trigeminal neuralgia subjects, including the insula, secondary somatosensory cortex, hippocampus, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, and several areas of the temporal lobe. Mediation analysis revealed that decreased trigeminal nerve volume drove grey matter volume abnormality of the left insula, and further led to increased pain ratings.

Conclusion

This study showed a predominantly direct effect of trigeminal nerve atrophy on clinical pain variables in primary trigeminal neuralgia patients, providing new insight into the pathophysiology of the disease.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02713646.

SUBMITTER: Wang Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8889450 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Correlation between nerve atrophy, brain grey matter volume and pain severity in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Wang Yuan Y Yang Qian Q Cao Dongyuan D Seminowicz David D Remeniuk Bethany B Gao Lin L Zhang Ming M

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 20180807 4

<h4>Background</h4>Recent neuroimaging studies have reported grey matter alterations in primary trigeminal neuralgia patients. However, few studies have focused on quantitative measurements of trigeminal nerves and the interaction between trigeminal nerve volume and brain morphology, particularly grey matter volume. In this study, we investigated the link between trigeminal nerves and grey matter volume changes in primary trigeminal neuralgia patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we e ...[more]

PMID: 30086682

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Dataset Information

Correlation between nerve atrophy, brain grey matter volume and pain severity in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Trial registration

Publications

Correlation between nerve atrophy, brain grey matter volume and pain severity in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.

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