DTI-based Study On Topological Properties Of White Matter Network In Parkinson’s Disease And Its Correlation With Clinical Data

Objective To analyze the specific changes of the white matter network topological properties with Parkinson’s disease(PD)and the correlation between the related parameters of PD topological properties and clinical data.To explore the potential significance of DTI in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease,and to better guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods Twenty-two patients with Parkinson’s disease admitted to the Department of Neurology of our hospital from October to April 2020 and their age and gender matched healthy volunteers(control group)were collected consecutively.All subjects completed diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)scanning,and the topological attribute difference of white matter network between the two groups was analyzed by graph theory analysis method on the basis of fiber tracking technology.Furthermore,the correlation between the topological attributes of PD patients and the clinical data was discussed.Results(1)Both groups of white matter networks retained small-world properties.(2)Compared with the control group,the global efficiency(Eglob)and clustering coefficient(C_p)of the white matter network in PD group were significantly reduced,while the shortest path length(L_p)was significantly increased,with statistically significant differences(P=0.02,P=0.037,P=0.047).However,there was no significant difference in small world attribute value and local efficiency(Eloc)between PD group and control group(P=0.407,P=0.059).(3)In the PD group,the shortest path length value was positively correlated with the duration of disease(P=0.026),but not correlated with the H-Y grade of disease severity or UPDRS-III score.There was no significant correlation between global efficiency,clustering coefficient,local efficiency and small-world attribute value and duration of disease H-Y grading and UPDRS-Ⅲscore(P>0.05).(4)In PD group,uric acid was positively correlated with the clustering coefficient(r=0.484 P=0.036)and negatively correlated with the local efficiency(r=-0.551P=0.015),andλvalue was positively correlated with the absolute value of lymphocytes(r=0.697 P=0.001).Conclusion Compared with healthy controls,the topology properties of the white matter network of PD patients changed,the overall connectivity of the whole brain network decreased,and the ability to integrate and transmit information decreased.With the prolongation of the duration of disease,the topological properties of the white matter network in PD patients changed more obviously.The changes in the topological properties of white matter network are related to neuro-immune.