Microstructural brain changes in Buerger's disease and smokers: a case-control study using diffusion tensor imaging.

AIM: Thromboangiitis Obliterans (TAO), or Buerger's disease, affects peripheral vessels and is linked to smoking. This study using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography examines brain microstructural changes in TAO patients compared to healthy smokers and Normal controls, aiming to reveal neurological implications beyond the known peripheral effects.

METHODS

The case-control study involved 50 participants aged 27-56 in northeastern Iran, including TAO patients, healthy smokers, and non-smoking controls. MRI scans with DTI were conducted to assess 21 brain tracts for fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).

RESULTS

Significant differences in brain tract integrity were observed among the groups. TAO patients showed lower FA values in the minor forceps compared to healthy smokers, while smokers had higher FA values than non-smoking controls. ADC values were notably higher in TAO patients across several tracts, including the minor and major forceps, corticospinal tracts, fornix tracts, and arcuate fasciculus, compared to both healthy smokers and controls.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights distinct brain tract alterations in TAO patients and suggests potential neurological consequences associated with the disease and smoking habits. DTI proves valuable in understanding microstructural brain changes and could serve as a diagnostic tool for evaluating smoking-related neurologic complications, providing insights into TAO's impact beyond peripheral vessels.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: N/A.