The relationship between balance disorder, brain tractography and volume measurements in fibromyalgia syndrome: a cross-sectional study

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Çiçek F., Seber T., Ülkü Demir F. G., Payas A., Uçar İ.

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, cilt.44, sa.6, ss.1131-1138, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

Objective Balance disorder is one of the most common symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) and its prevalence ranges between 45% and 68%. Therefore, the aim of this study is to reveal the possible effects of FM on these structures by measuring the volumes of the VIII-X lobes and vermis of the cerebellum using bilateral tractography of the cerebellum's connections on brain MRI images of individuals with FM and healthy individuals. Methods The study consisted of 30 individuals with FM and 31 healthy individuals. All participants were female and aged between 18 and 65. All individuals in the groups underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the brain. Tractography analysis was performed using the DSI Studio program, and volume analysis was performed using the VolBrain software program. Results In the study, it was determined that the fractional anisotropy (FA) value was lower in the FM group in the tractography analysis results of SCP, MCP, ICP, and vermis (p<0.05). In addition, it was found that the FM group had lower cerebellum VIII-X lobes and vermis volume in the volumetric analysis results (p<0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, this study suggests that the balance disorders observed in FM may be a result of lesions and volumetric atrophy occurring in central nervous system (CNS) structures. Furthermore, it indicates that the decrease in FA values observed in individuals with FM provides evidence that FM affects the CNS.