Symptoms reported by Canadians posted in Havana are linked with reduced white matter fibre density

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain..

Diplomats representing the USA have reported with unusual neurologic symptoms and MRI changes after being posted in Havana, Cuba between late 2016 and 2018. Here, we examined white matter microstructure and network connectivity of individuals stationed in Havana, using diffusion-weighted MRI, fixel-based analysis and structural connectomics as implemented in MRtrix3. MRI data acquisition and clinical assessments were done in a total of 24 diplomats and their family members and 40 healthy controls. The diplomat data were grouped into an exposed cohort (n = 16) and an unexposed cohort (n = 10), and among these, two individuals were assessed before and after potential exposure. Fixel-based analysis revealed a reduction in fibre density in two specific regions: the fornix and the splenium, in exposed individuals, relative to unexposed individuals and healthy controls. Post hoc analyses showed the effect remained present (P < 0.05) in both regions when comparing exposed and unexposed diplomats; and reduced fibre density was correlated with longer time period stationed in Cuba after age correction. Reduction of fibre density was also found to be linked with clinical symptoms of persistent migraine, tinnitus, sound sensitivity and fatigue. Network statistical comparisons revealed decreased structural connectivity in two distinct networks, comprising subcortical and cortical systems in exposed individuals, relative to unexposed and normative data. While the cause for the differences between the groups remains unknown, our results reveal region-specific white matter injury, that is, significantly correlated with clinical symptoms.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:4

Enthalten in:

Brain communications - 4(2022), 2 vom: 15., Seite fcac053

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Aristi, Guillermo [VerfasserIn]
Kamintsky, Lyna [VerfasserIn]
Ross, Margaux [VerfasserIn]
Bowen, Chris [VerfasserIn]
Calkin, Cynthia [VerfasserIn]
Friedman, Alon [VerfasserIn]
Hashmi, Javeria A [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Brain injury
Diffusion-weighted MRI
Havana syndrome
Headache
Journal Article
White matter

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 16.07.2022

published: Electronic-eCollection

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1093/braincomms/fcac053

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM340343885