Brain white matter changes associated with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Multisite neuroimaging from a MAPP case-control study

Lejian Huang, Jason J. Kutch, Benjamin M. Ellingson, Katherine T. Martucci, Richard E. Harris, Daniel J. Clauw, Sean Mackey, Emeran A. Mayer, Anthony J. Schaeffer, A. Vania Apkarian, Melissa A. Farmer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Clinical phenotyping of urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes (UCPPSs) in men and women have focused on end organ abnormalities to identify putative clinical subtypes. Initial evidence of abnormal brain function and structure in male pelvic pain has necessitated large-scale, multisite investigations into potential UCPPS brain biomarkers. We present the first evidence of regional white matter (axonal) abnormalities in men and women with UCPPS, compared with positive (irritable bowel syndrome, IBS) and healthy controls. Epidemiological and neuroimaging data were collected from participants with UCPPS (n 52), IBS (n 39), and healthy sex- and age-matched controls (n 61). White matter microstructure, measured as fractional anisotropy (FA), was examined by diffusion tensor imaging. Group differences in regional FA positively correlated with pain severity, including segments of the right corticospinal tract and right anterior thalamic radiation. Increased corticospinal FA was specific and sensitive to UCPPS, positively correlated with pain severity, and reflected sensory (not affective) features of pain. Reduced anterior thalamic radiation FA distinguished patients with IBS from those with UCPPS and controls, suggesting greater microstructural divergence from normal tract organization. Findings confirm that regional white matter abnormalities characterize UCPPS and can distinguish between visceral diagnoses, suggesting that regional axonal microstructure is either altered with ongoing pain or predisposes its development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2782-2791
Number of pages10
JournalPain
Volume157
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 10 2016

Funding

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Funding for the MAPP Research Network was obtained under cooperative agreements from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant numbers DK82315, DK82316, DK82325, DK82333, DK82342, DK82344, DK82345, and DK82370. In addition, this work was supported in part by NIH grants AT007987, DK100924, DE022746, and NS35115 (AVA) and HD077854 (MAF). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH.

Keywords

  • Diffusion tensor imaging
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Pain
  • Pelvic
  • Urological

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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