Open AccessAltered myelination in youth born with congenital heart disease
Author(s) -
Easson Kaitlyn,
Gilbert Guillaume,
Rohlicek Charles V.,
SaintMartin Christine,
Descoteaux Maxime,
Deoni Sean C. L.,
BrossardRacine Marie
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.25866
Subject(s) - white matter , corpus callosum , myelin , psychology , population , brain structure and function , biomarker , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , cardiology , physiology , neuroimaging , neuroscience , central nervous system , biology , radiology , biochemistry , environmental health
Brain injury and dysmaturation is common in fetuses and neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) and is hypothesized to result in persistent myelination deficits. This study aimed to quantify and compare myelin content in vivo between youth born with CHD and healthy controls. Youth aged 16 to 24 years born with CHD and healthy age‐ and sex‐matched controls underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging including multicomponent driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T 1 and T 2 (mcDESPOT). Average myelin water fraction (MWF) values for 33 white matter tracts, as well as a summary measure of average white matter MWF, the White Matter Myelination Index, were calculated and compared between groups. Tract‐average MWF was lower throughout the corpus callosum and in many bilateral association tracts and left hemispheric projection tracts in youth with CHD ( N = 44) as compared to controls ( N = 45). The White Matter Myelination Index was also lower in the CHD group. As such, this study provides specific evidence of widespread myelination deficits in youth with CHD, likely representing a long‐lasting consequence of early‐life brain dysmaturation in this population. This deficient myelination may underlie the frequent neurodevelopmental impairments experienced by CHD survivors and could eventually serve as a biomarker of neuropsychological function.