Visual task-related functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging for the objective quantitation of visual function in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa

PURPOSE: The objective quantitation of visual function in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP) presents a difficult challenge due to the weak visual function of these patients. This study utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the function and structure of the visual cortex (VC) in patients with RP and quantitatively categorize them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with RP and ten healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled for MRI examinations. The patients were divided into form perception (FP) and no form perception (NFP) groups. Participants underwent structural MRI scans, and two visual task functional MRI scans were performed using stimuli, including white flash and black and white checkerboard patterns. Eight regions of interest (ROIs) were studied. In structural MRI, the gray matter volume (GMV) was compared in the ROIs. In the two visual tasks, the response intensity and functional connectivity (FC) of ROIs were also compared separately. Correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations between the structural and functional parameters. RESULTS: In the structural analysis, the GMV in Brodmann areas 17, 18, and 19 of the FP and NFP groups was significantly lower than that of HCs. Regarding the functional data, the response intensity in the VC of both the FP and NFP groups was significantly lower than that in HCs. The response in Brodmann areas 17, 18, and 19 obtained using the pattern stimulus was significantly lower in the NFP group than in the FP group. For the FC comparison, the FP and NFP groups exhibited significantly lower values in several pathways than the HCs, and FC in the ipsilateral V1–contralateral V1 pathway in the flash task was significantly lower in the NFP group than in the FP group. A positive correlation between response intensity and GMV was observed in Brodmann areas 17, 18, and 19 in both flash and pattern visual tasks. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging was an effective tool to objectively and quantitatively evaluate the visual function of patients with advanced RP. Response intensity and FC were effective parameters to distinguish FP and NFP patients. A positive correlation between response intensity and GMV was observed in the VC.