Contributions
Abstract: P1010
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Damage of the corticospinal tract (CST) has been associated with disability. However, the neural correlation of walking dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS), a key factor for disability, is poorly known.
Objective: To evaluate the changes in microstructural integrity of CST, cortical thickness of CST-related areas and volume of brainstem and spinal cord in patients with MS and their association with objectively measured daily activity (DA).
Methods: 35 MS patients and 19 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent a 3 Tesla MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and 3D-structural sequences. Probabilistic tractography from brainstem to cortical regions relevant for ambulation was used to reconstruct CST and obtain DTI indices (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity and axial diffusivity). Also, cortical thicknesses of CST-related areas, cerebellar cortex, brainstem and C1-C3 spinal cord (SC) volumes were analysed. All subjects wore a triaxial accelerometer for seven days to measure DA in counts per day and completed the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The Expanded Disability Status Scale score (EDSS) was obtained in patients.
Results: MS patients had a median EDSS (range) of 2.0 (0-6.0) and a mean disease duration (SD) of 9.9 (8.6) years. MS and HV did not differ in gender, age, body mass index or IPAQ. Average DA (counts/day) was significantly lower in patients (MS mean [SD]=495,290 [188,030] vs. HV mean [SD]=630,832 [199,377]; p=0.02). MS patients differed from HV in all DTI indices of CST, bilateral superior parietal thickness, left cerebellar cortex, brainstem and SC volume (p< 0.05). In patients, average DA correlated with bilateral cerebellar cortical volume (left: r=0.59, p< 0.001, right: r=0.60, p< 0.001) and brainstem volume (r=0.45, p=0.02). We did not find significant associations between DA and CST DTI indices, cortical thicknesses or SC volume.
Conclusion: Structural integrity of cerebellar cortex and brainstem seem relevant to maintain daily activity in patients with MS.
Disclosure: Núria Solà-Valls has nothing to disclosure
Eloy Martínez-Heras has nothing to disclosure
Elisabeth Solana has nothing to disclosure
María Sepúlveda has nothing to disclosure
Alberto Prats-Galino has nothing to disclosure
Yolanda Blanco has nothing to disclosure
Albert Saiz has received compensation for consulting services and speaking from Bayer-Schering, Merck-Serono, Biogen-Idec, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Novartis. He is a researcher in OCTIMS study. Founding: He received grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RD12/0032/0002)Sara Llufriu has nothing to disclosure.
Abstract: P1010
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Damage of the corticospinal tract (CST) has been associated with disability. However, the neural correlation of walking dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS), a key factor for disability, is poorly known.
Objective: To evaluate the changes in microstructural integrity of CST, cortical thickness of CST-related areas and volume of brainstem and spinal cord in patients with MS and their association with objectively measured daily activity (DA).
Methods: 35 MS patients and 19 healthy volunteers (HV) underwent a 3 Tesla MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and 3D-structural sequences. Probabilistic tractography from brainstem to cortical regions relevant for ambulation was used to reconstruct CST and obtain DTI indices (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity and axial diffusivity). Also, cortical thicknesses of CST-related areas, cerebellar cortex, brainstem and C1-C3 spinal cord (SC) volumes were analysed. All subjects wore a triaxial accelerometer for seven days to measure DA in counts per day and completed the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The Expanded Disability Status Scale score (EDSS) was obtained in patients.
Results: MS patients had a median EDSS (range) of 2.0 (0-6.0) and a mean disease duration (SD) of 9.9 (8.6) years. MS and HV did not differ in gender, age, body mass index or IPAQ. Average DA (counts/day) was significantly lower in patients (MS mean [SD]=495,290 [188,030] vs. HV mean [SD]=630,832 [199,377]; p=0.02). MS patients differed from HV in all DTI indices of CST, bilateral superior parietal thickness, left cerebellar cortex, brainstem and SC volume (p< 0.05). In patients, average DA correlated with bilateral cerebellar cortical volume (left: r=0.59, p< 0.001, right: r=0.60, p< 0.001) and brainstem volume (r=0.45, p=0.02). We did not find significant associations between DA and CST DTI indices, cortical thicknesses or SC volume.
Conclusion: Structural integrity of cerebellar cortex and brainstem seem relevant to maintain daily activity in patients with MS.
Disclosure: Núria Solà-Valls has nothing to disclosure
Eloy Martínez-Heras has nothing to disclosure
Elisabeth Solana has nothing to disclosure
María Sepúlveda has nothing to disclosure
Alberto Prats-Galino has nothing to disclosure
Yolanda Blanco has nothing to disclosure
Albert Saiz has received compensation for consulting services and speaking from Bayer-Schering, Merck-Serono, Biogen-Idec, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Novartis. He is a researcher in OCTIMS study. Founding: He received grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RD12/0032/0002)Sara Llufriu has nothing to disclosure.