Preliminary study of grey matter density changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To investigate the changes of grey matter density in brain in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) by using voxel-based morphometry(VBM).Methods We selected 18 COPD patients as COPD group and 16 matched healthy volunteers as controls.The cardiopulmonary function,blood gas analysis index and activities of daily living(ADL) score were recorded and compared between the two groups.Eachparticipant received whole brain scans using magnetic resonance imaging.The difference in grey matter volume between patients and controls was analyzed by VBM.Results The forced expired volume in one second(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC),FEV1/FVC ratio,arterial oxygen saturation,partial pressure of oxygen and ADL score were significantly lower,while pulse was faster and partial pressure of CO2 was higher than the control group(all P0.05).VBM revealed decreased grey matter densities in the COPD group including the right hemisphere(lingual gyrus,postcentral cortex,superior temporal gyrus,parahippocampus,hippocampus,amygdala,and anterior cingulate gyrus),left hemisphere(inferior and middle temporal gyri and caudate),bilateral insula,and bilateral thalamus) as compared with thecontrols(all P0.001).Conclusions Chronic anoxia occurred in patients with COPD might induce the reduction of grey matter densities.Regional grey matter impairment might regulate the pathological cardiopulmonary function,and might related to the cognitive and emotional changes.