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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4
Published on: August 21, 2017
Resting-state functional MRI demonstrates brain network reorganization in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Kévin Bigaut1, Sophie Achard2, Céline Hemmert3
1Department of neurology, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Background:
The relation between brain functional connectivity of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and the degree of disability remains unclear.
Objective:
Compare brain functional connectivity of patients with NMOSD to healthy subjects in resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI).
Methods:
We compared the rs-fMRI connectivity in 12 NMOSD patients with 20 healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Graph theory analysis was used to quantify the role of each node using a set of metrics: degree, global efficiency, clustering and modularity. To summarize the abnormal connectivity profile of brain regions in patients compared to healthy subjects, we defined a hub disruption index κ.
Results:
Concerning the global organization of networks in NMOSD, a small-world topology was preserved without significant modification concerning all average metrics. However, visual networks and the sensorimotor network showed decreased connectivity with high interindividual variability. The hub disruption index κ was correlated to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate a correlation between disability according to the EDSS and neuronal reorganization using the rs-fMRI graph methodology. The conservation of a normal global topological structure despite local modifications in functional connectivity seems to show brain plasticity in response to the disability.
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