Contributions
Abstract: EP1546
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - 21 Imaging
Background: Several studies have indicated the relevance for multiple sclerosis (MS)-related disability of spinal cord grey matter atrophy, which can now be estimated using appropriate MRI sequences.
Objective: To further evaluate the feasibility and clinical relevance of MRI-derived estimations of spinal cord grey matter atrophy.
Material and methods: A convenience sample of MS patients and healthy controls (HC) was scanned using brain 3D T1w (MPRAGE) and T2-FLAIR, and spinal cord 2D heavily T1w (PSIR) sequences on a 3T magnet. MPRAGE and T2-FLAIR sequences were used to obtain whole brain parenchymal, grey and white matter fractions (BPF, GMF and WMF) using the automatic Lesion Segmentation Tool and filling implemented in Statistical Parametric Mapping. An experienced technician with neuroradiological supervision used a semiautomated method implemented in JIM software on MPRAGE sequences to obtain cord length, volume and mean area from medulla oblongata to C3 (CLmo, CVmo, CMAmo), and cord length and volume from C1 to C3 (CLc1, CVc1). PSIR sequences were used to obtain whole cord, grey and white matter areas (CMAc2, CGMA, CWMA) at C2-C3. Appropriate statistical tests were used before and after age-adjustment.
Results: 49 patients (32 female / mean age 43,0 years -SD:11.0- / median EDSS 4.0 - range: 0 - 7.5 / mean brain lesion volume 17,9 ml -SD:18,4-) and 13 HC (7 female / mean age 37,8 years -SD:9.7-) were included. CGMA and CWMA could only be reliably obtained in 17 patients and 12 controls mostly due to lesion-related segmentation difficulties. Before and after age adjustment, patients with MS had significantly lower BPF, WMF, CLmo, CVmo, CMAmo, CLc1, CVc1, CMAc2 and CGMA than HC. Significant negative associations with EDSS were observed for BPF, GMF, CVmo, CMAmo, CVc1, CMAc2 and CGMA, but only CMAmo (standardized beta coefficient (sbc)=-0,254; p=0,091), CVc1 (sbc=-0,244; p=0,072) and CMAc2 (sbc=-0,244; p=0,072) survived age-adjustment.
Conclusion: Due to lesion artefacts two thirds of patients cannot have their spinal cord grey matter areas reliably estimated but, in spite of lower sample sizes, significant findings can still be observed.
Disclosure: Over the last 12 months, Jaume Sastre-Garriga has received speaking or consulting honoraria from Merck, Teva, Biogen, Genzyme, Celgene and Novartis
JC & MA have nothing to disclose
C Auger has received speaking honoraria from Novartis, Biogen and Stendhal
Abstract: EP1546
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - 21 Imaging
Background: Several studies have indicated the relevance for multiple sclerosis (MS)-related disability of spinal cord grey matter atrophy, which can now be estimated using appropriate MRI sequences.
Objective: To further evaluate the feasibility and clinical relevance of MRI-derived estimations of spinal cord grey matter atrophy.
Material and methods: A convenience sample of MS patients and healthy controls (HC) was scanned using brain 3D T1w (MPRAGE) and T2-FLAIR, and spinal cord 2D heavily T1w (PSIR) sequences on a 3T magnet. MPRAGE and T2-FLAIR sequences were used to obtain whole brain parenchymal, grey and white matter fractions (BPF, GMF and WMF) using the automatic Lesion Segmentation Tool and filling implemented in Statistical Parametric Mapping. An experienced technician with neuroradiological supervision used a semiautomated method implemented in JIM software on MPRAGE sequences to obtain cord length, volume and mean area from medulla oblongata to C3 (CLmo, CVmo, CMAmo), and cord length and volume from C1 to C3 (CLc1, CVc1). PSIR sequences were used to obtain whole cord, grey and white matter areas (CMAc2, CGMA, CWMA) at C2-C3. Appropriate statistical tests were used before and after age-adjustment.
Results: 49 patients (32 female / mean age 43,0 years -SD:11.0- / median EDSS 4.0 - range: 0 - 7.5 / mean brain lesion volume 17,9 ml -SD:18,4-) and 13 HC (7 female / mean age 37,8 years -SD:9.7-) were included. CGMA and CWMA could only be reliably obtained in 17 patients and 12 controls mostly due to lesion-related segmentation difficulties. Before and after age adjustment, patients with MS had significantly lower BPF, WMF, CLmo, CVmo, CMAmo, CLc1, CVc1, CMAc2 and CGMA than HC. Significant negative associations with EDSS were observed for BPF, GMF, CVmo, CMAmo, CVc1, CMAc2 and CGMA, but only CMAmo (standardized beta coefficient (sbc)=-0,254; p=0,091), CVc1 (sbc=-0,244; p=0,072) and CMAc2 (sbc=-0,244; p=0,072) survived age-adjustment.
Conclusion: Due to lesion artefacts two thirds of patients cannot have their spinal cord grey matter areas reliably estimated but, in spite of lower sample sizes, significant findings can still be observed.
Disclosure: Over the last 12 months, Jaume Sastre-Garriga has received speaking or consulting honoraria from Merck, Teva, Biogen, Genzyme, Celgene and Novartis
JC & MA have nothing to disclose
C Auger has received speaking honoraria from Novartis, Biogen and Stendhal