Functional brain MRI in patients complaining of EHS after long term exposure to EMF

2017 · Unclear · Very low evidence

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UnclearVery low evidencePaper 2384

In 10 adult patients reporting EHS, all had abnormal resting-state fMRI findings, commonly described as hyperconnectivity of the anterior component of the default mode network in the medial orbitofrontal area, while regular MRI was mostly unremarkable. Author…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typecase_report

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Functional brain MRI in patients complaining of EHS after long term exposure to EMF Heuser G, Heuser SA. Functional brain MRI in patients complaining of electrohypersensitivity after long term exposure to electromagnetic fields. Rev Environ Health. 2017 Sep 26;32(3):291-299. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2017- 0014. Abstract INTRODUCTION: Ten adult patients with electromagnetic hypersensitivity underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans. All scans were abnormal with abnormalities which were consistent and similar. It is proposed that fMRI brain scans be used as a diagnostic aid for determining whether or not a patient has electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Over the years we have seen an increasing number of patients who had developed multi system complaints after long term repeated exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). These complaints included headaches, intermittent cognitive and memory problems, intermittent disorientation, and also sensitivity to EMF exposure. Regular laboratory tests were within normal limits in these patients. The patients refused to be exposed to radioactivity. This of course ruled out positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain scanning. This is why we ordered fMRI brain scans on these patients. We hoped that we could document objective abnormalities in these patients who had often been labeled as psychiatric cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients first underwent a regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan, using a 3 Tesla Siemens Verio MRI open system. A functional MRI study was then performed in the resting state using the following sequences: A three-dimensional, T1-weighted, gradient-echo (MPRAGE) Resting state network. The echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequences for this resting state blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) scan were then post processed on a 3D workstation and the independent component analysis was performed separating out the various networks. Arterial spin labeling. Tractography and fractional anisotropy. RESULTS: All ten patients had abnormal functional MRI brain scans. The abnormality was often described as hyper connectivity of the anterior component of the default mode in the medial orbitofrontal area. Other abnormalities were usually found. Regular MRI studies of the brain were mostly unremarkable in these patients. CONCLUSION: We propose that functional MRI studies should become a diagnostic aid when evaluating a patient who claims electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and has otherwise normal studies. Interestingly, the differential diagnosis for the abnormalities seen on the fMRI includes head injury. It turns out that many of our patients indeed had a history of head injury which was then followed sometime later by the development of EHS. Many of our patients also had a history of exposure to potentially neurotoxic chemicals, especially mold. Head injury and neurotoxic chemical exposure may make a patient more vulnerable to develop EHS. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_report

Effect directionunclear

PopulationAdults complaining of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) after long term exposure to electromagnetic fields

Sample size10

Exposurelong term repeated exposure (not further specified)

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) abnormalities (e.g., hyperconnectivity of anterior default mode network in medial orbitofrontal area)
Conventional MRI findings (mostly unremarkable)

Limitations

Very small sample size (n=10)
No control group described
EMF exposure characteristics (source, frequency, intensity) not specified
Potential confounding noted (history of head injury; exposure to neurotoxic chemicals such as mold)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long term repeated exposure (not further specified)"
  },
  "population": "Adults complaining of electrohypersensitivity (EHS) after long term exposure to electromagnetic fields",
  "sample_size": 10,
  "outcomes": [
    "Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) abnormalities (e.g., hyperconnectivity of anterior default mode network in medial orbitofrontal area)",
    "Conventional MRI findings (mostly unremarkable)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 10 adult patients reporting EHS, all had abnormal resting-state fMRI findings, commonly described as hyperconnectivity of the anterior component of the default mode network in the medial orbitofrontal area, while regular MRI was mostly unremarkable. Authors propose fMRI as a diagnostic aid for evaluating patients claiming EHS with otherwise normal studies.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Very small sample size (n=10)",
    "No control group described",
    "EMF exposure characteristics (source, frequency, intensity) not specified",
    "Potential confounding noted (history of head injury; exposure to neurotoxic chemicals such as mold)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electrohypersensitivity",
    "EHS",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "functional MRI",
    "fMRI",
    "resting state",
    "default mode network",
    "hyperconnectivity",
    "BOLD",
    "arterial spin labeling",
    "tractography",
    "fractional anisotropy",
    "head injury",
    "mold",
    "neurotoxic chemicals"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Discusses EHS and proposes diagnostic approach; potentially relevant to broader EMF health assessment debates."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2017
PubMed: Not supplied

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