This study set out to investigate in a population-based longitudinal cohort, whether chronification of back pain (BP) is related to structural gray matter changes in corticolimbic brain structures. Gray matter volume (GMV) was measured in participants with chronic BP (CBP, n = 168) and controls without chronic pain (n = 323) at 2 time points with an interval of 7 years (baseline t1, follow-up t2). Over this time period, participants with CBP showed an increase of GMV in the left ventral striatum, whereas controls showed a decrease. By contrast, participants with CBP had a GMV decrease in the left parahippocampal gyrus. Within the CBP group, pain duration was negatively associated with GMV in the left caudate. Those with emerging CBP had less GMV in the right entorhinal area, right amygdala, and left medial frontal cortex. Additional variables differing between those who had BP at t1 and later developed CBP or not were pain intensity, body mass index, and depression score. In sum, these findings are in accordance with the notion that limbic brain properties are both predisposing risk factors and drivers of brain reorganization during the development of CBP.

中文翻译：

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慢性背痛发展过程中边缘脑结构的灰质体积：一项纵向队列研究。


本研究旨在调查基于人群的纵向队列，背痛 （BP） 的慢性化是否与皮质边缘大脑结构的结构灰质变化有关。在 2 个时间点测量慢性血压 （CBP，n = 168） 和无慢性疼痛的对照组 （n = 323） 的灰质体积 （GMV），间隔 7 年 （基线 t1，随访 t2）。在此期间，CBP 参与者显示左腹侧纹状体的 GMV 增加，而对照组显示减少。相比之下，CBP 参与者的左侧海马旁回的 GMV 降低。在 CBP 组中，疼痛持续时间与左侧尾状核的 GMV 呈负相关。那些出现 CBP 的人在右内嗅区、右杏仁核和左内侧额叶皮层的 GMV 较低。在 t1 时有 BP 而后来没有发生 CBP 的人之间存在差异的其他变量是疼痛强度、体重指数和抑郁评分。总之，这些发现符合这样一种观点，即边缘大脑特性既是 CBP 发展过程中大脑重组的易感风险因素，也是大脑重组的驱动因素。