The predictive value of gray matter atrophy in clinically isolated syndromes
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Abstract
Background: Although gray matter (GM) atrophy is recognized as a common feature of multiple sclerosis (MS), conflicting results have been obtained in patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS). Methodologic and clinical constraints may take account for literature discrepancies.
Methods: A total of 105 patients presenting with CIS and 42 normal controls (NC) were studied. At baseline, 65/105 patients with CIS met the criterion of dissemination in space of lesions (DIS+). All patients were clinically assessed by means of the Expanded Disability Status Scale every 6 months and underwent MRI evaluation at study entry and then annually for 4 years. Global and regional cortical thickness and deep GM atrophy were assessed using Freesurfer.
Results: No significant reduction in GM atrophy was observed between the entire CIS group and the NC, excepting for the cerebellum cortical volume. When the 59 patients with CIS (46 DIS+, 13 DIS−) who converted to MS during the follow-up were compared to the NC, a significant atrophy in the precentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, thalamus, and putamen was observed (p ranging from 0.05 to 0.001). The multivariate analysis identified the atrophy of superior frontal gyrus, thalamus, and cerebellum as independent predictors of conversion to MS. CIS with atrophy of such areas had a double risk of conversion compared to DIS+ (odds ratio 9.6 vs 5.0).
Conclusion: Selective GM atrophy is relevant in patients with CIS who convert early to MS. The inclusion of GM analysis in the MS diagnostic workup is worthy of further investigation.
Footnotes
-
Editorial, page 210
-
- ANOVA=
- analysis of variance;
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- CIS=
- clinically isolated syndrome;
- CONV=
- conversion;
- CTh=
- cortical thickness;
- DIS=
- dissemination in space;
- EDSS=
- Expanded Disability Status Scale;
- ETL=
- echo train length;
- FFE=
- fast field echo;
- FLAIR=
- fluid-attenuated inversion recovery;
- FOV=
- field of view;
- GM=
- gray matter;
- MS=
- multiple sclerosis;
- NC=
- normal control;
- OR=
- odds ratio;
- PPMS=
- primary progressive multiple sclerosis;
- RRMS=
- relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis;
- T2-WM-LV=
- T2 white matter lesion volume;
- TE=
- echo time;
- TI=
- inversion time;
- TR=
- repetition time;
- WM=
- white matter
- Received September 13, 2010.
- Accepted December 22, 2010.
- Copyright © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
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