Assessing brain activity in patients with disorder of consciousness using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance images

Objective Disorder of consciousness (DoC) is an impaired state of consciousness. This study used the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) measures obtained from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to observe neuronal activity changes in patients with DoC from various injuries for prognostic predictions. Methods This study included six patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced DoC and six patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD)-induced DoC. Images were processed using Data Processing Assistant for rs-fMRI software to obtain the ALFF and ReHo values. Results The ALFF values were lower in the TBI group than in the CVD (i.e., control) group for the Precuneus_R, Superior frontal gyrus_R, Middle frontal gyrus, Middle occipital gyrus, and Hippocampus_R but higher for the bilateral insula, Postcentral gyrus_L, right moment gyrus, Superior parietal gyrus_L, and Inferior temporal gyrus_L. The ReHo values were higher in the TBI group than in the CVD group for the Precental gyrus_L and Postcentral gyrus_L, Middle temporal gyrus_R, right superior temporal gyrus, Superior temporal gyrus_R, Superior parietal gyrus_L, Superior frontal gyrus_R, and Inferior frontal gyrus)_L but lower for the Insula_R, Postcentral gyrus_R, Inferior frontal gyrus, Orbital part_L, straight gyrus, and Anterior cingulate_L. Consciousness improved in three patients with CVD DoC and one with TBI DoC. Conclusion ALFF and ReHo enhancements in the precuneus and frontal lobes on rs-fMRI might suggest improved consciousness for patients with CVD and TBI DoC.