Gray Matter Changes Following Mild COVID‐19: An MR Morphometric Study in Healthy Young People

Author:

Perlaki Gábor123ORCID,Darnai Gergely124,Arató Ákos1,Alhour Husamalddin Ali1,Szente Anna1,Áfra Eszter4,Nagy Szilvia Anett1235,Horváth Réka1,Kovács Norbert1,Dóczi Tamás36,Orsi Gergely1236ORCID,Janszky József12

Affiliation:

1. Department of Neurology, Medical School University of Pécs Pécs Hungary

2. ELKH‐PTE Clinical Neuroscience MR Research Group Eötvös Loránd Research Network Pécs Hungary

3. Pécs Diagnostic Centre NeuroCT Ltd. Pécs Hungary

4. Department of Behavioural Sciences, Medical School University of Pécs Pécs Hungary

5. Structural Neurobiology Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre University of Pecs Pécs Hungary

6. Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School University of Pécs Pécs Hungary

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough COVID‐19 is primarily an acute respiratory infection, 5%–40% of patients develop late and prolonged symptoms with frequent neurological complaints, known as long COVID syndrome. The presentation of the disease suggests that COVID infection may cause functional and/or morphological central nervous system alterations, but studies published in the literature report contradictory findings.PurposeTo investigate the chronic effects of COVID‐19 on cerebral grey matter in a group of young patients without comorbidities, with mild course of COVID infection and no medical complaints at the time of examination.Study TypeProspective.PopulationThirty‐eight young (age = 26.6 ± 5.0 years; male/female = 14/24), adult participants who recovered from mild COVID infection without a history of clinical long COVID and 37 healthy control subjects (age = 25.9 ± 2.8 years; male/female = 14/23).Field Strength/SequenceThree Tesla, 3D T1‐weighted magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo, 2D T2‐weighted turbo spin‐echo.AssessmentMRI‐based morphometry and volumetry along with neuropsychological testing and self‐assessed questionnaire.Statistical TestsFisher's exact test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess differences between COVID and healthy control groups. P < 0.05 was used as cutoff for significance.ResultsIn the COVID group, significantly lower bilateral mean cortical thickness (left/right‐hemisphere: 2.51 ± 0.06 mm vs. 2.56 ± 0.07 mm, η2p = 0.102/2.50 ± 0.06 mm vs. 2.54 ± 0.07 mm, η2p = 0.101), lower subcortical gray matter (57881 ± 3998 mm3 vs. 60470 ± 5211 mm3, η2p = 0.100) and lower right olfactory bulb volume (52.28 ± 13.55 mm3 vs. 60.98 ± 15.8 mm3, η2p = 0.078) were found. In patients with moderate to severe anosmia, cortical thickness was significantly lower bilaterally, as compared to patients without olfactory function loss (left/right‐hemisphere: 2.50 ± 0.06 mm vs. 2.56 ± 0.05 mm, η2 = 0.173/2.49 ± 0.06 mm vs. 2.55 ± 0.05 mm, η2 = 0.189). Using further exploratory analysis, significantly reduced cortical thickness was detected locally in the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex in the COVID group (2.53 ± 0.10 mm vs. 2.60 ± 0.09 mm, η2p = 0.112).Data ConclusionEven without any subjective or objective neurological complaints at the time of the MR scan, subjects in the COVID group showed gray matter alterations in cortical thickness and subcortical gray matter volume.Level of Evidence2Technical EfficacyStage 3

Funder

Magyar Tudományos Akadémia

Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging

Cited by 3 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3