title: Visual resting-state network in relapsing-remitting MS with and without previous optic neuritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate functional connectivity of the visual resting-state network (V-RSN) in normal-sighted relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with and without previous optic neuritis (ON).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty normal-sighted RRMS patients, 16 without (nON-MS) and 14 with (ON-MS) previous ON, and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent a neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation, including automated perimetry and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurement, as well as an MRI protocol, including structural and resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) sequences. Functional connectivity of the V-RSN was evaluated by independent component analysis (ICA). Regional gray matter atrophy was assessed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM). A correlation analysis was performed between RS-fMRI results and clinical, neuro-ophthalmologic, and structural MRI variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to HCs, patients with RRMS showed a reduced functional connectivity in the peristriate visual cortex, bilaterally. Compared to nON-MS, ON-MS patients revealed a region of stronger functional connectivity in the extrastriate cortex, at the level of right lateral middle occipital gyrus, as well as a region of reduced functional connectivity at the level of right inferior peristriate cortex. These latter changes correlated with the number of previous ON. All detected V-RSN changes did not colocalize with regional gray matter atrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal-sighted RRMS patients show a significant functional disconnection in the V-RSN. RRMS patients recovered from a previous ON show a complex reorganization of the V-RSN, including an increased functional connectivity at the level of extrastriate visual areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Docimo
authors.forename: Alvino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bisecco
authors.forename: Marida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corbo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Sossio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonavita
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012146:Rest; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen