The Study Of VBM In Precuneus Subregions In Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Objective:To study the characteristics of gray and white matter volume changes in the precuneus subregions of patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy?MHE?and to explore the related neurological mechanisms via voxel-based morphometry?VBM?.Methods:The neuropsychological test was performed on 15 normal subjects and 15 MHE first,and then the 3D T₁WI images were obtained and analyzed by using 3.0 T MRI scanner and dparsf softwar,respectively.Finally,the changes of gray and white matter volumes in the precuneus subregions were statistically analyzed between MHE and normal group.Results:Compared with the normal group,generally the volumes of gray matter in the left precuneus decreased in MHE?slightly in the anterior and central but significantly in the posterior and the ventral?,at the same time,a little increase was also noted in some parts.For the white matter volumes,4 subregions increased in the left?slightly in the anterior and central subregions,but significantly in the posterior and ventral?,along with some increase.The changes of gray matter and white matter in the right precuneus subregions were also more obvious than that in the left[P<0.05].Conlusion:The changes of gray and white matter volumes in the precuneus subregions of MHE can be revealed by using voxel-based morphometry,which had a certain value in the early diagnosis of MHE and understanding of the mechanisms of nerve injury.