Amplitude of low frequency fluctuation on patients with hypertension comorbid depression: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

Objective To explore the features of resting state brain activity of hypertension and hypertension co-morbid depression by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology based on the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Methods Thirty patients with hypertension co-morbid depression group (HD), 30 patients with hypertension group (H), and 30 normal controls group (NC) were selected. The demographic data and clinical features of all groups were collected. All participants underwent the fMRI and the resting state data of whole brain were analyzed by ALFF method. Results Four clusters with statistically significant differences in one-way analysis of variance in ALFF between the three groups including the left cerebellum, right thalamus, left superior temporal gyrus, and left superior medial frontal gyrus (F=14.99, 15.90, 11.52, 12.64, all P<0.05, AlphaSim corrected). Group H showed more decreased ALFF in right thalamus than group NC (MNI coordinates (x, y, z): 6,-15, 12; F=-3.96) . Compared group HD with group NC, decreased ALFF was found in left cerebellum (MNI coordinates (x, y, z):-48,-63,-27; F=-4.87) , right thalamus (MNI coordinates (x, y, z): 6,-15, 9;F=-5.20) and increased ALFF in left superior medial frontal gyrus (MNI coordinates (x, y, z):-24, 36, 42, F=5.08) . Compared group HD with group H, decreased ALFF was found in the left superior temporal gyrus (MNI coordinates (x, y, z):-54,-12, 12; F=-4.32) , increased ALFF in right superior frontal gyrus (MNI coordinates (x, y, z): 18, 36, 48; F=3.99) and left superior frontal gyrus (MNI coordinates (x, y, z):-15, 48, 42; F=3.57; all P<0.05, AlphaSim corrected). Conclusion Abnormal resting-state brain activity emerge in regulatory areas in patients with hypertension co-morbid depression, which is more seriously than ones with hypertension, and early positive and effective control of blood pressure may alleviate damage to brain function. Key words: Hypertension; Depressive disorder; Magnetic resonance imaging; Comorbidity; Amplitude of low frequency fluctuation