Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is characterized by altered functional brain connectivity of the insular cortex: A cross‐comparison with migraine and healthy adults. Issue 6 (1st December 2016) - Ellingsen, D.‐M.
Abstract: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) has been linked to episodic migraine, yet little is known about the precise brain‐based mechanisms underpinning CVS, and whether these associated conditions share similar pathophysiology. We investigated the functional integrity of salience (SLN) and sensorimotor (SMN) intrinsic connectivity networks in CVS, migraine and healthy controls using brain functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. CVS, relative to both migraine and controls, showed increased SLN connectivity to middle/posterior insula, a key brain region for nausea and viscerosensory processing. In contrast, this same region showed diminished SMN connectivity in both CVS and migraine. These results highlight both unique and potentially shared pathophysiology between these conditions, and suggest a potential target for therapeutics in future studies. Abstract : Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) and Episodic Migraine (MIG) may share pathophysiology, but no studies have yet compared these conditions. We found that the mid‐posterior insula, a key region for viscero‐sensation, shows diminished brain functional connectivity with the Sensorimotor Network in both CVS and MIG, but increased connectivity to the Salience Network for CVS only, compared to age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. The results point to both CVS‐unique and potentially shared pathophysiology between CVS and episodic migraine.