Regional homogeneity alterations in patients with post-stroke depression: a resting-state functional MRI study

Objective To describe the characteristics of regional homogeneity (ReHo) of brain in post-stroke depression (PSD) patients by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods From April 2016 to June 2017, 12 frontal lobe stroke patients with PSD (PSD group) and 12 frontal lobe stroke patients without PSD (control group) were designed to scan by rs-fMRI. The ReHo maps were analyzed with paired t-test to compare the ReHo changes between the two groups and the cerebral function features of patients with PSD were analyzed. Results As compared with control group, the patients from PSD group showed significantly increased ReHo level in the right hippocampus, left transverse temporal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right insula, right inferior frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, right postcentral gyrus, right precentral gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus, and significantly decreased ReHo levels in the left cerebellum posterior lobe, left cerebellum anterior lobe, left occipital lobe, right occipital lobe, right precuneus, right parietal lobe, right supramarginal gyrus, and right superior parietal lobule (P<0.05, cluster threshold≥10). Conclusion Abnormal activities focus on limbic system, right parietal lobe and left cerebellum in patients with PSD, and meanwhile, a part of temporal lobe and frontal lobe are also activated. Key words: Post-stroke depression; Resting-state; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Regional homogeneity