title: Regional cerebral blood flow and cognitive deficits in chronic lyme disease.
abstract: This study examined brain functioning in patients with Lyme encephalopathy. Eleven patients underwent neuropsychological tests and Xenon(133)-regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) studies, using an external detector system. Each rCBF scan was age- and sex-matched to two archival, normal controls. While few differences were noted on gray-matter flow indices (ISI, fg), Lyme patients demonstrated significant flow reductions in white matter index (k(2)) (p=.004), particularly in the posterior temporal and parietal lobes bilaterally (p=.003). Flow reductions in white matter areas were significantly associated with deficits in memory (r=.66, p=.027) and visuospatial organization (r=.62, p=.041). Results suggest that Lyme encephalopathy may be a disease primarily affecting the cerebral white matter.
authors.affiliation: The NYS Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keilp
authors.forename: Isak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prohovnik
authors.forename: Ronald Van
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Heertum
authors.forename: J John
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014979:Xenon Isotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D014979:Xenon Isotopes