Neue EHS-Studie

[Elisabeth Buchs]

Es ist eine neue und sehr interessante EHS-Langzeitstudie erschienen. EHS wurden
mit einem funktional MRI untersucht und es konnte gezeigt werden, dass alle
Probanden konsistente Veränderungen im Gehirn aufweisen. Die Forscher kommen zum
Schluss, dass fMRI-Scans eingesetzt werden können, um EHS objektiv zu
diagnostizieren oder auszuschliessen. Sie sind auch der Auffassung, dass damit
in Zukunft die Stigmatisierung von EHS als Psychiatriefall verhindert werden könne.

Es konnte auch gezeigt werden, dass mittels "normalen" bzw. statischen MRI-Scans
die Veränderungen im Gehirn nicht feststellbar sind. Als hauptsächliche
Beschwerden nannten die Probanden Kopfschmerzen, wiederkehrende kognitive
Probleme, Gedächtnisstörungen, wiederkehrende Orientierungslosigkeit und
Empfindlichkeit gegenüber elektromagnetischen Feldern.

Wer also beispielsweise eine Gehirnverletzung hatte und zusätzlich längere Zeit
Schimmelpilz ausgesetzt war, hat ein erhöhtes Risiko EHS zu entwickeln.

Functional brain MRI in patients complaining of electrohypersensitivity after long term exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Gunnar Heuser  Sylvia A. Heuser

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Ten kein Ersatz 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.

Quelle: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28678737