Alteration within the Hippocampal Volume in Patients with LHON Disease-7 Tesla MRI Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the volumetry of the hippocampus in the Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) of blind patients. Methods: A total of 25 patients with LHON were randomly included into the study from the national health database. A total of 15 patients were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The submillimeter segmentation of the hippocampus was based on three-dimensional spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in steady state (3D-SPGR) BRAVO 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that compared to healthy controls (HC), LHON subjects had multiple significant differences only in the right hippocampus, including a significantly higher volume of hippocampal tail (p = 0.009), subiculum body (p = 0.018), CA1 body (p = 0.002), hippocampal fissure (p = 0.046), molecular layer hippocampus (HP) body (p = 0.014), CA3 body (p = 0.006), Granule Cell (GC) and Molecular Layer (ML) of the Dentate Gyrus (DG)-GC ML DG body (p = 0.003), CA4 body (p = 0.001), whole hippocampal body (p = 0.018), and the whole hippocampus volume (p = 0.023). Discussion: The ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging allowed hippocampus quality visualization and analysis, serving as a powerful in vivo diagnostic tool in the diagnostic process and LHON disease course assessment. The study confirmed previous reports regarding volumetry of hippocampus in blind individuals.

Automated summary

This study aimed to assess the volumetry of the hippocampus in blind patients with LHON. Using high-field MRI technology, the study found significant differences in various parts of the right hippocampus in LHON patients compared to healthy controls. The findings confirmed previous reports and suggested the potential of ultra-high-field MRI as a diagnostic tool for evaluating LHON disease progression.