Objective To investigate alteration in brain gray matter volume in kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)and its correlation with post-traumatic stress symptoms(PTSS)in KTRs so as to provide neuro-imaging evidence for early detection and intervention of PTSS in KTRs.Methods Forty-six KTRs and 46 age-,sex-,and education-matched heath control(HCs)underwent brain MRI scanning with 3D T1-weighted structural images.Voxel-based morphometry(VBM)was applied to compare the gray matter volume between the two groups.For regions with significant differences in gray matter volume between KTRs and HCs,we analyzed the correlations with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R)scores,which assess the severity of PTSS.Results Compared to HCs,KTRs showed significant reductions in gray matter volume in the bilateral precentral gyrus,middle frontal gyrus,supplementary motor area,medial paracingulate gyrus,and bilateral middle temporal gyrus(all P＜0.05,TFCE-FWE correction).The gray matter volume of the left middle frontal gyrus in KTRs was negatively correlated with their IES-R scores(r=-0.235,P=0.022).Conclusion KTRs exhibit abnormal gray matter volume,and the gray matter volume of the left middle frontal gyrus is correlated with the severity of PTSS.

Objective To investigate alteration in brain gray matter volume in kidney transplant recipients(KTRs)and its correlation with post-traumatic stress symptoms(PTSS)in KTRs so as to provide neuro-imaging evidence for early detection and intervention of PTSS in KTRs.Methods Forty-six KTRs and 46 age-,sex-,and education-matched heath control(HCs)underwent brain MRI scanning with 3D T1-weighted structural images.Voxel-based morphometry(VBM)was applied to compare the gray matter volume between the two groups.For regions with significant differences in gray matter volume between KTRs and HCs,we analyzed the correlations with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R)scores,which assess the severity of PTSS.Results Compared to HCs,KTRs showed significant reductions in gray matter volume in the bilateral precentral gyrus,middle frontal gyrus,supplementary motor area,medial paracingulate gyrus,and bilateral middle temporal gyrus(all P＜0.05,TFCE-FWE correction).The gray matter volume of the left middle frontal gyrus in KTRs was negatively correlated with their IES-R scores(r=-0.235,P=0.022).Conclusion KTRs exhibit abnormal gray matter volume,and the gray matter volume of the left middle frontal gyrus is correlated with the severity of PTSS.