Abstract
In patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), the relationship between consciousness and the thalamocortical tract (TCT), which links the thalamic intralaminar nuclei (ILN) and the cerebral cortex, was investigated. Forty-one patients with ICH were assigned to 1 of 2 groups according to their preservation of consciousness as determined by their Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score. Patient group A had impaired consciousness (GCS < 15, 21 patients), and patient group B had intact consciousness (GCS = 15, 20 patients). The control group included 20 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. For all groups, the TCTs from the thalamic ILN of both sides were reconstructed using a probabilistic tractography method based on a multifiber model. In addition, tract volume (TV) values were determined. The TV values for the ipsilateral TCT from the thalamic ILN of the all-patient groups and those for contralateral TCT of the patient group B showed no significant differences between ICH and contra-ICH sides (P > .05). The TV results for the ipsilateral and contralateral TCTs from the thalamic ILN of the ICH and contra-ICH sides were significantly different among the 3 groups (P < .05). Among the patients, there were moderate positive correlations between GCS scores and TV values of the ipsilateral TCT on the ICH and contra-ICH sides (R = 0.477, P < .05; R = 0.426, P < .05). The TV of the ipsilateral TCT from the thalamic ILN on the ICH and contra-ICH sides was significantly correlated with the consciousness level in patients with ICH. Our results could be helpful when developing therapeutic strategies for ICH patients with disorders of consciousness.