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Primary biliary cholangitis patients exhibit MRI changes in structure and function of interoceptive brain regions
Victoria Mosher1,2, Mark Swain1,3,4, Jack Pang1,5
1Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Plos One
|February 9, 2019
Summary
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) alters brain structure and function in regions vital for interoception. These changes in the thalamus and insula may be reversible in early-stage disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Gastroenterology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients often report non-hepatic symptoms potentially linked to altered interoception.
- The thalamus and insula are key brain regions involved in processing interoceptive signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural and functional brain changes in the thalamus and insula of PBC patients using MRI.
- To explore the relationship between these brain changes and disease indicators.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3 Tesla T1-weighted MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
- Assessed thalamic and insular volume, neuronal activity, and iron deposition in 15 PBC patients and 17 controls.
- Employed analysis of covariance and stepwise linear regression for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- PBC patients showed reduced thalamic volume and anterior insula activity.
- Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) non-responders had lower left thalamus activity.
- Increased liver stiffness correlated with greater anterior insula iron deposition.
Conclusions:
- Primary biliary cholangitis impacts the structure and function of brain regions crucial for interoception.
- Observed brain alterations in early-stage PBC suggest potential reversibility.
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