Loss of cerebral white matter in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a controlled volumetric magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

Background and purpose: Although brain involvement is common in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), results from cerebral imaging studies are inconsistent. This study aimed to perform both voxel-wise and global brain volume analyses in a nearly population-based pSS cohort to explore whether the patients displayed any focal or diffuse volume differences compared with healthy subjects.

Methods: Global grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes were measured and compared in 60 patients with pSS and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Regression models were constructed with potential explanatory variables for GM and WM volumes. In the same groups, voxel-wise morphometric analyses were performed.

Results: In analyses of global GM and WM, the patients had lower WM volumes than healthy subjects (540 ± 63 cm(3) vs. 564 ± 56 cm(3), P = 0.02), but no differences in GM. Voxel-wise analyses displayed no localized areas of GM or WM volume differences between pSS patients and healthy subjects.

Conclusion: Individuals with pSS have a diffuse reduction of cerebral WM but no localized loss of WM or GM. This indicates a general deleterious effect on WM due to pSS itself.

Keywords: imaging; primary Sjögren's syndrome; voxel-based morphometry; white matter.