Loss of cerebral white matter in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a controlled volumetric magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

Although brain involvement is common in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), results from cerebral imaging studies are inconsistent. This study aimed to perform both voxel-wise and global brain volume analyses in a nearly population-based pSS cohort to explore whether the patients displayed any focal or diffuse volume differences compared with healthy subjects. Global grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes were measured and compared in 60 patients with pSS and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Regression models were constructed with potential explanatory variables for GM and WM volumes. In the same groups, voxel-wise morphometric analyses were performed. In analyses of global GM and WM, the patients had lower WM volumes than healthy subjects (540 ± 63 cm(3) vs. 564 ± 56 cm(3), P = 0.02), but no differences in GM. Voxel-wise analyses displayed no localized areas of GM or WM volume differences between pSS patients and healthy subjects. Individuals with pSS have a diffuse reduction of cerebral WM but no localized loss of WM or GM. This indicates a general deleterious effect on WM due to pSS itself.