Quantification of white matter hyperintensities in type 1 diabetes and its relation to neuropathy and clinical characteristics

Tine M. Hansen*, Suganthiya S. Croosu, Shahram Kianimehr, Mimoza Gjela, Johan Røikjer, Yousef Yavarian, Carsten D Mørch, Niels Ejskjaer, Jens B. Frøkjær

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims
The aims were to quantify periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in adults with type 1 diabetes with different neuropathic phenotypes and to correlate WMH measurements to explanatory factors in diabetes.

Methods
WMH measurements were obtained from brain magnetic resonance imaging of 56 adults with type 1 diabetes in subgroups including painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), painless DPN, without DPN and 20 healthy controls using Fazekas scale and automatic segmentation analysis.

Results
No differences in Fazekas assessed WMHs were found (individuals with periventricular lesions: diabetes 66 % vs. controls 40 %, p = 0.063, deep lesions: diabetes 52 % vs. controls 50 %, p = 1.0). Using automatic detection, there were no significant differences in count of periventricular (p = 0.30) or deep (p = 0.31) WMHs. Higher periventricular lesion burden was present in diabetes compared with controls (0.21 % vs. 0.06 %, p = 0.048), which was associated with more severe DPN, increased age, decreased cognitive function, and reduced volumetric and metabolic brain measures (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Our findings indicate increased burden of periventricular WMHs in diabetes which were associated to DPN severity and measurements reflecting neurodegeneration. Deep WMHs, often considered as chronic ischemic, were not significantly different. Mechanisms reflecting neurodegeneration and accelerated brain aging could be an overlooked aspect of peripheral and central neuropathy.
Original languageEnglish
Article number149288
JournalBrain Research
Volume1846
Number of pages7
ISSN0006-8993
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2025

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Central nervous system
  • Diabetic neuropathy
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Peripheral nervous system
  • White matter hyperintensities

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