title: Loss of cerebral white matter in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a controlled volumetric magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lauvsnes
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Appenzeller
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harboe
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gøransson
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tjensvoll
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omdal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: imaging; primary Sjögren's syndrome; voxel-based morphometry; white matter