White Matter Hyperintensities and Hypobaric Exposure

Abstract

Demonstrate occupational exposure to non-hypoxic hypobaria is associated with subcortical white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Eighty-three altitude chamber personnel (PHY), 105 U-2 pilots (U2P), and 148 age- controlled and health-matched doctorate degree controls (DOC) underwent high-resolution MRI. Subcortical WMH burden was quantified as count and volume of subcortical WMH lesions after transformation of images to the Talairach-atlas-based stereotactic frame. Results: Subcortical WMH are more prevalent in PHY (volume p=0.011/count p=0.019) and U2P (volume p less than 0.001/count p less than 0.001) when compared to DOC, while PHY are not significantly different than U2P. Interpretation: This study provides strong evidence that non-hypoxic hypobaric exposure may induce subcortical WMH in a young, healthy population lacking other risk factors for WMH and adds this occupational exposure to other environmentally related potential causes of WMH.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA616151

Entities

People

  • Andrew Y. Robinson
  • John H. Sladky
  • Laura M. Rowland
  • Patrick M. Grogan
  • Paul M. Sherman
  • Peter V. Kochunov
  • S. A. Wijtenburg
  • Stephen A McGuire

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Altitude Chambers
  • Arteries
  • Brain Injuries
  • Chambers
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health Services
  • High Altitude
  • Information Processing
  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Medical Personnel
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Training

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Medical Imaging.