Contributions
Abstract: P1044
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Brain volume loss is an important biomarker of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). Thalamic and corpus callosum atrophy are conjectured to precede global brain atrophy.
Objectives: To investigate whether low corpus callosum (CC) or thalamus (TH) volume at baseline is associated with a higher degree of future whole brain volume loss (BVL) in a clinical cohort of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.
Methods: 64 patients, 48 relapsing-remitting MS and 16 secondary-progressive MS, from an outpatient facility specialized to MS (Neurozentrum Hamburg) were included who received at least 2 MRI examinations between 2014 and 2016. MRI acquisition was performed on a single 3 Tesla GE scanner using the same 3D MPRAGE protocol. Mean (± std) age was 45.3 ± 12.4 years and mean disease duration (DD) was 9.3 ± 8.2 years. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was assessed by an experienced neurologist (EDSS = 2.7 ± 1.9). Mean time interval between baseline and the latest MRI scan was 2.1 ± 0.88 years. Global brain parenchyma (BP), CC and TH volumes were calculated deploying a previously described atlas based volumetry approach implemented in SPM12. Volumes were adjusted for intracranial volume and age. BVL between baseline and the latest MRI scan was computed using FSL/SIENA. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the annualized BVL (aBVL) and age, EDSS, DD, and adjusted BP, adjusted CC and adjusted TH volumes were computed.
Results: Mean aBVL of all 64 patients was 0.44 ± 0.51 %. No correlations were found between aBVL and age (r=0.03, p=0.8), aBVL and DD (r=0.12, p=0.37)) and between aBVL and adjusted BP volume (r=-0.16, p=0.21). Significant correlations were found between aBVL and EDSS (r=0.37, p=0.003), aBVL and CC volume (r=-0.35, p=0.005) and between aBVL and TH volume (r=-0.28, p=0.027).
Conclusions: In the investigated patient cohort low CC or TH volume at baseline was associated with a higher degree of aBVL. This finding needs to be confirmed in a bigger and independent patient cohort. If confirmed this finding might be useful to stratify patients with a single baseline MRI scan into groups of patients with high and low risk of future brain atrophy.
Disclosure: A. Raji: nothing to disclose, R. Opfer: nothing to disclose, G. Winkler: nothing to disclose, L. Spies: nothing to disclose
Abstract: P1044
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Imaging
Background: Brain volume loss is an important biomarker of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). Thalamic and corpus callosum atrophy are conjectured to precede global brain atrophy.
Objectives: To investigate whether low corpus callosum (CC) or thalamus (TH) volume at baseline is associated with a higher degree of future whole brain volume loss (BVL) in a clinical cohort of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.
Methods: 64 patients, 48 relapsing-remitting MS and 16 secondary-progressive MS, from an outpatient facility specialized to MS (Neurozentrum Hamburg) were included who received at least 2 MRI examinations between 2014 and 2016. MRI acquisition was performed on a single 3 Tesla GE scanner using the same 3D MPRAGE protocol. Mean (± std) age was 45.3 ± 12.4 years and mean disease duration (DD) was 9.3 ± 8.2 years. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was assessed by an experienced neurologist (EDSS = 2.7 ± 1.9). Mean time interval between baseline and the latest MRI scan was 2.1 ± 0.88 years. Global brain parenchyma (BP), CC and TH volumes were calculated deploying a previously described atlas based volumetry approach implemented in SPM12. Volumes were adjusted for intracranial volume and age. BVL between baseline and the latest MRI scan was computed using FSL/SIENA. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the annualized BVL (aBVL) and age, EDSS, DD, and adjusted BP, adjusted CC and adjusted TH volumes were computed.
Results: Mean aBVL of all 64 patients was 0.44 ± 0.51 %. No correlations were found between aBVL and age (r=0.03, p=0.8), aBVL and DD (r=0.12, p=0.37)) and between aBVL and adjusted BP volume (r=-0.16, p=0.21). Significant correlations were found between aBVL and EDSS (r=0.37, p=0.003), aBVL and CC volume (r=-0.35, p=0.005) and between aBVL and TH volume (r=-0.28, p=0.027).
Conclusions: In the investigated patient cohort low CC or TH volume at baseline was associated with a higher degree of aBVL. This finding needs to be confirmed in a bigger and independent patient cohort. If confirmed this finding might be useful to stratify patients with a single baseline MRI scan into groups of patients with high and low risk of future brain atrophy.
Disclosure: A. Raji: nothing to disclose, R. Opfer: nothing to disclose, G. Winkler: nothing to disclose, L. Spies: nothing to disclose