C-Reactive Protein is Associated with Brain White Matter Anomalies in Gulf War Illness

Independent lines of research have documented elevated peripheral inflammation and brain white matter alterations in Gulf War Illness (GWI). We recently documented an association of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, and decreased fornix white matter integrity in GWI. The aim of the present study was to extend those findings to evaluate the association between CRP and white matter anisotropy and diffusion throughout the brain in GWI. Sixty-three veterans with GWI provided blood samples for evaluation of CRP and underwent a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scan from which fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained. An additional index characterizing the shape of the diffusion ellipsoid, Ca, which reflects deviation from sphericity (or isotropy) was obtained. Results demonstrated that CRP was significantly associated with decreased FA and Ca and with increased RD and MD, but not AD. These findings documenting a highly significant association between peripheral inflammation and specific white matter alterations in GWI are discussed in terms of GWI-related exposures that may promote systemic inflammation and deleterious neural effects downstream.