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Gray matter volume microstructural alterations in chronic post-burn pruritus: a voxel-based morphometry analysis
Zhi-Kai Lu1, Xiao-Yan Li1, Yin Huang2
1Department of CT Room, General Hospital of Tisco, The Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|September 22, 2025
Summary
Chronic post-burn pruritus (CPBP) is linked to reduced gray matter volume in various brain regions, including frontal and temporal areas. This finding may offer new insights into the underlying mechanisms of this debilitating condition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Burn Injury Research
Background:
- Chronic post-burn pruritus (CPBP) is a common and severe condition following burn injuries.
- The exact pathological mechanisms of CPBP are not fully understood.
- CPBP significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microstructural gray matter changes in individuals with CPBP.
- To explore the relationship between these brain changes and clinical scores.
- To utilize voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for quantitative analysis.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 20 CPBP patients and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs).
- Acquired 3D T1-weighted MRI scans for all participants.
- Applied VBM to measure gray matter volumes and compare between groups, correlating volumes with clinical markers.
Main Results:
- No significant age difference was observed between CPBP patients and HCs.
- CPBP patients exhibited reduced gray matter volume in multiple brain regions compared to HCs (P < 0.05).
- Affected regions included bilateral parahippocampal gyri, frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, and cerebellar areas. A negative correlation was found between depression scores and right superior temporal gyrus volume in CPBP patients (r = -0.632, P = 0.003).
Conclusions:
- Significant gray matter volume reduction occurs in frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, and cerebellar regions in CPBP patients.
- These structural brain changes may be associated with the pathophysiology of chronic post-burn pruritus.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
