Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Chronic Disorders of Consciousness.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To measure regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRGlu) in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness (DOCs) using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET).

METHODS:

This retrospective cohort study examined 50 patients (mean age: 40.9 ± 20.1 years) with traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced chronic DOCs [minimally conscious state (MCS)+, n = 20; MCS-, n = 15 and vegetative state (VS), n = 15]. We measured FDG-PET-based CMRGlu values in 12 regions of both brain hemispheres and compared those among MCS+, MCS - and VS patients.

RESULTS:

In both hemispheres, the regional CMRGlu reduced with consciousness deterioration in 11 of 12 regions (91.7%). In seven right hemisphere regions, CMRGlu values were markedly higher in MCS+ patients than in MCS- patients. Furthermore, CMRGlu was suggestively higher in the left occipital region in MCS- patients than in VS patients.

CONCLUSION:

Functional preservation in the left occipital region in patients with chronic DOCs might reflect an awareness of external environments, whereas extensive functional preservation in the right cerebral hemisphere might reflect communication motivation.

• Authors: Noriko Usami, Yoshitaka Asano, Yuka Ikegame, Hiroaki Takei, Yuichi Yamada, Hirohito Yano, Jun Shinoda
• Journal: The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques (Can J Neurol Sci) Vol. 50 Issue 5 Pg. 719-729 (09 2023) ISSN: 0317-1671 [Print] England
• PMID: 36200558 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
• Glucose

Topics

• Humans
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Middle Aged
• Brain
• Consciousness
• Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (metabolism)
• Consciousness Disorders (diagnostic imaging)
• Retrospective Studies
• Persistent Vegetative State
• Positron-Emission Tomography (methods)
• Glucose (metabolism)