Key result
Buerger's disease and smoking were associated with significant microstructural brain alterations, including lower fractional anisotropy in the minor forceps and higher apparent diffusion coefficients in multiple tracts compared to controls.
Why the study?
Does Thromboangiitis Obliterans (TAO) cause microstructural brain changes compared to healthy smokers and non-smokers?
Case-Control (n=50)
No
Does Thromboangiitis Obliterans (TAO) cause microstructural brain changes compared to healthy smokers and non-smokers?
Buerger's disease is associated with distinct microstructural brain tract alterations compared to healthy smokers and non-smokers, suggesting neurological consequences beyond peripheral vessel involvement.
Aim Thromboangiitis Obliterans (TAO), or Buerger’s disease, affects peripheral vessels and is linked to smoking. This Diffusion tensor imaging tractography (DTI) study examines brain function changes in TAO patients compared to healthy smokers and non-smokers, aiming to reveal neurological implications beyond the known peripheral effects. Methods The case-control study involved 50 participants aged 27-56 in northeast Iran, including TAO patients, healthy smokers, and non-smoking controls. MRI scans with DTI were conducted to assess 21 brain tracts for fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Results Significant differences in brain tract integrity were observed among the groups. TAO patients showed lower FA values in the minor forceps compared to healthy smokers, while smokers had higher FA values than non-smoking controls. ADC values were notably higher in TAO patients across several tracts, including corticospinal tracts, fornix tracts, arcuate fasciculus, and inferior longitudinal fasciculus, compared to both healthy smokers and controls. Conclusion The study highlights distinct brain tract alterations in TAO patients and suggests potential neurological consequences associated with the disease and smoking habits. DTI proves valuable in understanding microstructural brain changes and could serve as a diagnostic tool for evaluating smoking-related neurologic complications, providing insights into TAO’s impact beyond peripheral vessels. Key Points Advanced MRI techniques, particularly DTI, reveal significant differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the brains of individuals with Buerger’s disease and smokers. Notable ADC variations in corticospinal and fornix tracts are observed between Buerger’s patients, smokers, and non-smokers. FA values in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the minor and major forceps significantly differ among Buerger’s patients, smokers, and controls, highlighting microstructural brain alterations.
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Shahir et al. (2024) conducted a case-control in Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger's disease) (n=50). Buerger's disease and smoking vs. Healthy non-smokers was evaluated on Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) across 21 white matter tracts. Buerger's disease and smoking were associated with significant microstructural brain alterations, including lower fractional anisotropy in the minor forceps and higher apparent diffusion coefficients in multiple tracts compared to controls.
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