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Abstract: SA-PO721

Alteration of Structural and Functional Connectivity in Neurologically Asymptomatic Patients with ESRD

Session Information

Category: Pathology and Lab Medicine

  • 1602 Pathology and Lab Medicine: Clinical

Authors

  • Jun, Seong Myung, Haeundae paik hospital Inje University, Busan, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Lee, Yoo jin, Haeundae paik hospital Inje University, Busan, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Park, Bongsoo, Haeundae paik hospital Inje University, Busan, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Park, Sihyung, Haeundae paik hospital Inje University, Busan, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Kim, Yang Wook, Haeundae paik hospital Inje University, Busan, Korea (the Republic of)
Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations of structural and functional connectivity using graph theoretical analysis in the neurologically asymptomatic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In addition, we investigated the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) in the patients with ESRD, and analyzed the association between the network measures of brain connectivity and cognitive function.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled neurologically asymptomatic 40 patients with ESRD and 40 healthy controls, and all of the subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). We calculated the measures of structural and functional connectivity based on DTI and rs-fMRI, respectively, and investigated the differences between the patients with ESRD and healthy controls. We assessed cognitive function in the patients with ESRD with the MMSE, MoCA, and CERAD neuropsychological battery.

Results

The patients with ESRD had decreased global structural and functional brain connectivity, and they had also alterations of network hubs compared to healthy controls. About 70% of patients with ESRD had CI. Even without CI, patients with ESRD had decreased global connectivity and alterations of network hubs. Furthermore, there was significant positive association between measures of brain connectivity and cognitive function.

Conclusion

We found that patients with ESRD had decreased structural and functional brain connectivity, and there was significant association between brain connectivity and cognitive function. These alterations of brain network may contribute to the pathophysiological mechanism of CI in the patients with ESRD.