OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the function of the glymphatic system in children with CSNHL compared to normal-hearing children using the DTI-ALPS approach, which utilizes diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space.
METHODS: Twenty-six children with CSNHL and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) with normal hearing thresholds were recruited. The DTIALPS index was calculated for each group. We analyzed the discrepancies in the DTI-ALPS index between patients with CSNHL and healthy controls. Additionally, Spearman\'s correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the DTI-ALPS index and age in children with CSNHL.
RESULTS: Significant differences in the DTI-ALPS index were observed between the two groups. Compared with HCs, the DTI-ALPS index in CSNHL patients was significantly lower (1.49388±0.11441 vs. 1.61402±0.15430, p=0.002). In addition, diffusivity along the z-axis in the association fiber (Dzzassoc) index was significantly higher in the CSNHL group than in the HC group (0.00041±0.00006 vs. 0.00036±0.00004, p=0.003). Furthermore, we discovered a noteworthy downward correlation between the DTI-ALPS index and age in children with CSNHL (rho = -0.544, p=0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: In this present study, glymphatic system activity in CSNHL children was investigated for the first time using the DTI-ALPS index. A significant decrease in glymphatic system function was detected in CSNHL children, which correlated well with age. The DTI-ALPS index could serve as a valuable biomarker for tracking disease progression and treatment in CSNHL and unraveling the neural mechanisms of early hearing deprivation in children with CSNHL.
目的:这项研究使用DTI-ALPS方法评估了CSNHL儿童与听力正常儿童相比的淋巴系统功能,利用沿血管周围空间的扩散张量成像。
方法:招募26名患有CSNHL的儿童和30名年龄和性别匹配的正常听力阈值的健康对照(HCs)。计算每组的DTIALPS指数。我们分析了CSNHL患者和健康对照组之间DTI-ALPS指数的差异。此外,采用Spearman相关分析探讨CSNHL患儿DTI-ALPS指数与年龄的关系。
结果:观察到两组之间DTI-ALPS指数的显着差异。与HC相比,CSNHL患者的DTI-ALPS指数明显降低(1.49388±0.11441vs.1.61402±0.15430,p=0.002)。此外,CSNHL组的缔合纤维(Dzzassoc)指数沿z轴的扩散率明显高于HC组(0.00041±0.00006vs.0.00036±0.00004,p=0.003)。此外,我们发现,在CSNHL患儿中,DTI-ALPS指数与年龄之间存在显著的下降相关性(rho=-0.544,p=0.005).
结论:在本研究中,首次使用DTI-ALPS指数研究了CSNHL儿童的淋巴系统活性。在CSNHL儿童中检测到淋巴系统功能的显着下降,这与年龄有很好的相关性。DTI-ALPS指数可以作为跟踪CSNHL疾病进展和治疗的有价值的生物标志物,并揭示CSNHL儿童早期听力剥夺的神经机制。