Voxel-based statistical analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 123; no. 20; pp. 2853 - 2857
• Main Authors: Kim, Yong Wook, Kim, Hyoung Seop, An, Young-Sil, Im, Sang Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine,Yonsei University College of Medicine,Seoul,Republic of Korea%Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Gyonggi-do,Republic of Korea%Department of Nuclear Medicine,Ajou University School of Medicine,Suwon,Republic of Korea%Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Jeju National University School of Medicine,Jeju,Republic of Korea 20.10.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Brain - metabolism; Brain Injuries - metabolism; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Glucose - metabolism; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Persistent Vegetative State - metabolism; 永久性; 状态显示; 统计分析; 背景植物; 脑损伤; 葡萄糖代谢; permanent vegetative state; cerebral glucose metabolism; acquired brain injury
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2010.20.020

Background Permanent vegetative state is defined as the impaired level of consciousness longer than 12 months after traumatic causes and 3 months after non-traumatic causes of brain injury. Although many studies assessed the cerebral metabolism in patients with acute and persistent vegetative state after brain injury, few studies investigated the cerebral metabolism in patients with permanent vegetative state. In this study, we performed the voxel-based analysis of cerebral glucose metabolism and investigated the relationship between regional cerebral glucose metabolism and the severity of impaired consciousness in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury.Methods We compared the regional cerebral glucose metabolism as demonstrated by F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography from 12 patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury with those from 12 control subjects. Additionally, covariance analysis was performed to identify regions where decreased changes in regional cerebral glucose metabolism significantly correlated with a decrease of level of consciousness measured by JFK-coma recovery scare. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical parametric mapping.Results Compared with controls, patients with permanent vegetative state demonstrated decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in the left precuneus, both posterior cingulate cortices, the left superior parietal lobule （Pcorrected 〈0.001）, and increased cerebral glucose metabolism in the both cerebellum and the right supramarginal cortices （Pcorrected 〈0.001）. In the covariance analysis, a decrease in the level of consciousness was significantly correlated with decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in the both posterior cingulate cortices （Puncorrected 〈0.005）.Conclusion Our findings suggest that the posteromedial parietal cortex, which are part of neural network for consciousness, may be relevant structure for pathophysiological mechanism in patients with permanent vegetative state after acquired brain injury.