Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging in quiescent Crohn’s disease patients with fatigue

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate brain involvement in quiescent Crohn's disease (CD) patients with fatigue using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Multiple MRI techniques were used to assess cerebral changes in 20 quiescent CD patients with fatigue (defined with at least 6 points out of an 11-point numeric rating scale compared with 17 healthy age and gender matched controls without fatigue. Furthermore, mental status was assessed by cognitive functioning, based on the neuropsychological inventory including the different domains global cognitive functioning, memory and executive functioning and in addition mood and quality of life scores. Cognitive functioning and mood status were correlated with MRI findings in the both study groups. RESULTS: -weighted analysis. In addition, no correlation was found between mental status and MRI findings. CONCLUSION: This work shows evidence for perfusion, neurochemical and mental differences in the brain of CD patients with fatigue compared with healthy controls.