title: Brain white matter changes associated with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome: multisite neuroimaging from a MAPP case-control study.
abstract: Clinical phenotyping of urological chronic pelvic pain syndromes (UCPPSs) in men and women have focused on end organ abnormalities to identify putative clinical subtypes. Initial evidence of abnormal brain function and structure in male pelvic pain has necessitated large-scale, multisite investigations into potential UCPPS brain biomarkers. We present the first evidence of regional white matter (axonal) abnormalities in men and women with UCPPS, compared with positive (irritable bowel syndrome, IBS) and healthy controls. Epidemiological and neuroimaging data were collected from participants with UCPPS (n = 52), IBS (n = 39), and healthy sex- and age-matched controls (n = 61). White matter microstructure, measured as fractional anisotropy (FA), was examined by diffusion tensor imaging. Group differences in regional FA positively correlated with pain severity, including segments of the right corticospinal tract and right anterior thalamic radiation. Increased corticospinal FA was specific and sensitive to UCPPS, positively correlated with pain severity, and reflected sensory (not affective) features of pain. Reduced anterior thalamic radiation FA distinguished patients with IBS from those with UCPPS and controls, suggesting greater microstructural divergence from normal tract organization. Findings confirm that regional white matter abnormalities characterize UCPPS and can distinguish between visceral diagnoses, suggesting that regional axonal microstructure is either altered with ongoing pain or predisposes its development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Lejian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kutch
authors.affiliation: Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Pain, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ellingson
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, and the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, and the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clauw
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mackey
authors.affiliation: Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Pain, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Emeran A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.|Departments of Surgery and Anesthesia, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: A Vania
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Apkarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farmer
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*