Functional connectivity density alterations in children with strabismus and amblyopia based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Yi-Dan Shi,Biao Li,Qian-Min Ge,Wen-Qing Shi,Yi Shao,Qi Lin,Rong-Bin Liang,Qiu-Yu Li

doi:10.1186/s12886-021-02228-3

Abstract

PurposeTo explore functional connectivity density (FCD) values of brain areas in children with strabismus and amblyopia (SA) based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals.MethodsThis study recruited 26 children (14 male, 12 females) with SA and 26 healthy children (14 male, 12 female) as healthy controls (HCs). Both groups matched in age, gender, educational level and socioeconomic background. While resting, all participants underwent fMRI scanning and global FCD (gFCD) and local FCD (lFCD) values were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created to investigate whether there was a significant difference between children with SA and healthy controls.ResultsWhen compared with healthy controls, children with SA had significantly lower gFCD values in the right cerebellum, left putamen, and right superior frontal gyrus; however, the same metrics showed opposite changes in the right angular gyrus, left middle cingulate gyrus, left angular gyrus, right superior parietal gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus. In children with SA, lFCD values were found to be remarkably decreased in regions of the middle right temporal pole, right cerebellum, left putamen, left hippocampus, right hippocampus, left thalamus, left cerebellum; values were increased in the right superior parietal gyrus as compared with healthy controls.ConclusionWe noted abnormal neural connectivity in some brain areas of children with SA; detailing such connectivity aberrations is useful in exploring the pathophysiology of SA and providing useful information for future clinical management.

Highlights

Both strabismus and amblyopia (SA) are widespread ophthalmology conditions which often manifest in infancy
Subject data No significant differences among SA and healthy controls (HCs) subjects were noted in age (P = 0.884); best-corrected left eye
The local FCD (lFCD) values of children with SA were remarkably decreased in areas of the right cerebellum, middle right temporal pole, right cerebellum, left hippocampus, left putamen, right hippocampus and left thalamus; lFCD values were increased in the right superior parietal gyrus as compared with HC subjects (Table 3; Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Both strabismus and amblyopia (SA) are widespread ophthalmology conditions which often manifest in infancy. Extraocular muscle (EOM) dysfunction is believed to. Shi et al BMC Ophthalmology (2022) 22:49 included amblyopia and stereoblindness. Strabismus frequently causes amblyopia, while amblyopia results in perceptual strabismus without effective intervention. Accidents in SA are thought to have increased with develops society. The incidences of strabismus and amblyopia in eastern, and the whole of China, are 5.65 and 1%–3%, respectively [4]. Strabismus affects vision in childhood, and threatens psychological health, social functioning and early character formation [5,6,7]

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