Objectives: Herpes zoster (HZ) has been found to be associated with arisk of developing dementia. However, changes of cellular metabolism in the hippocampus in HZ have received little attention. This study aimed to investigate the cellular metabolism changes in bilateral hippocampi in acute HZ.
Methods: 1H-MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) was used to detect the cellular metabolism of bilateral hippocampi in 62 patients with acute HZ and 12 volunteers (control group) from July 2020 to December 2021. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were used to evaluate their cognitive function, depression, anxiety and pain intensity, as well as a the correlation between them.
Results: The MMSE score in patients with HZ was not significantly different from that of controls (P>0.05), while the scores of HAMD and HAMA were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of controls. Also 12.9% and 21.0% of the patients with acute HZ had depression and anxiety disorders, respectively. The level of Cho/Cr in the left/right hippocampi of HZ patients was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). The level of Cho/Cr in the right hippocampus, duration of disease and NRS score in HZ patients with anxiety/depression were significantly higher than those without anxiety/depression, but the level of NAA/Cr in the right hippocampus was lower (P<0.05). The NRS score and duration of disease in HZ patients were positively correlated with the scores of HAMD and HAMA.
Conclusion: The cellular metabolism of bilateral hippocampi in patients with acute HZ is altered. Those with longer duration of disease and severe pain are more likely to have depression and anxiety disorder, and the changes in cellular metabolism of hippocampi in those with depression and anxiety were more prominent.
Keywords: Herpes zoster; cellular metabolism; cognitive function; hippocampus; magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
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