Contributions
Abstract: EP1557
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - 21 Imaging
Background: Cognitive impairment is frequent, debilitating and can be present early in the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS). The basal ganglia are deep grey matter structures involved in cognitive tasks, and frequently affected in MS patients. Abnormal basal ganglia activation on functional MRI has been observed during cognitive testing and lower volume has been associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, these studies were mainly conducted in treated patients and associations may differ in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between basal ganglia volume and cognitive function in untreated MS patients.
Methods: In total 68 untreated relapsing-remitting MS patients with short disease duration underwent brain MRI in the context of a previously reported randomized clinical trial (OFAMS) Their mean age was 38 years, mean time from diagnosis 1.7 years and mean EDSS 1.9±0.8. MRI scans were pre-processed using FreeSurfer-software estimating automatically total and constituent basal ganglia volume, including caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidus, and nucleus accumbens. Manual verification/editing followed. Cognitive function was assessed within ± 7 days of the MRI examination by Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), a validated tool, especially sensitive to MS-related processing speed and attention deficits. We estimated Pearson's correlation coefficients between basal ganglia and specific nuclei volumes and PASAT.
Results: We observed a statistically significant relationship of moderate strength between the basal ganglia volume and PASAT score. The correlation coefficient was strongest for total volume (r=0.28; p=0.027), but of similar magnitude for the single nuclei: putamen (r=0.26, p=0.043), caudate nucleus (r=0.25; p=0.040), pallidus (r=0.22; p=0.089), and nucleus accumbens (r=0.25; p=0.048).
Conclusions: In this untreated MS patient population with short disease duration and low physical disability, we observed that basal ganglia volume was significantly associated with cognitive function as measured by PASAT. Basal ganglia volume may be an early indicator of cognitive impairment and its use could be considered in prognostic scores at the first MRI in a clinical setting.
References: Torkildsen O, Wergeland S, Bakke S, et al. ω-3 fatty acid treatment in multiple sclerosis (OFAMS Study): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Neurol 2012;69:1044-51.
Disclosure:
- M. Cortese reports no disclosures.
- Ø. Bergmann reports no disclosures.
- D. Carlucci reports no disclosures.
- Ø. Torkildsen has received speaker honoraria or served on the scientific advisory board for Biogen, Sanofi-Aventis, Merck.
- S. Wergeland has received speaker honoraria from Biogen, Novartis.
- A.G. Beiske has received research support, travel funding or served on scientific advisory board for Genzyme and Teva and Novartis.
- H. Hovdal report no disclosures.
- R. Midgard has received speaker honoraria, travel funding or served on the scientific advisory board for Novartis Norway, Almirall, Merck and Sanofi Genzyme.
- T. Pedersen report no disclosures.
- K.-M. Myhr has received research support, speaker honoraria or served on the scientific advisory board for Almirall, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis Norway, Roche or Teva.
Abstract: EP1557
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - 21 Imaging
Background: Cognitive impairment is frequent, debilitating and can be present early in the disease course of multiple sclerosis (MS). The basal ganglia are deep grey matter structures involved in cognitive tasks, and frequently affected in MS patients. Abnormal basal ganglia activation on functional MRI has been observed during cognitive testing and lower volume has been associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, these studies were mainly conducted in treated patients and associations may differ in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between basal ganglia volume and cognitive function in untreated MS patients.
Methods: In total 68 untreated relapsing-remitting MS patients with short disease duration underwent brain MRI in the context of a previously reported randomized clinical trial (OFAMS) Their mean age was 38 years, mean time from diagnosis 1.7 years and mean EDSS 1.9±0.8. MRI scans were pre-processed using FreeSurfer-software estimating automatically total and constituent basal ganglia volume, including caudate nucleus, putamen, pallidus, and nucleus accumbens. Manual verification/editing followed. Cognitive function was assessed within ± 7 days of the MRI examination by Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), a validated tool, especially sensitive to MS-related processing speed and attention deficits. We estimated Pearson's correlation coefficients between basal ganglia and specific nuclei volumes and PASAT.
Results: We observed a statistically significant relationship of moderate strength between the basal ganglia volume and PASAT score. The correlation coefficient was strongest for total volume (r=0.28; p=0.027), but of similar magnitude for the single nuclei: putamen (r=0.26, p=0.043), caudate nucleus (r=0.25; p=0.040), pallidus (r=0.22; p=0.089), and nucleus accumbens (r=0.25; p=0.048).
Conclusions: In this untreated MS patient population with short disease duration and low physical disability, we observed that basal ganglia volume was significantly associated with cognitive function as measured by PASAT. Basal ganglia volume may be an early indicator of cognitive impairment and its use could be considered in prognostic scores at the first MRI in a clinical setting.
References: Torkildsen O, Wergeland S, Bakke S, et al. ω-3 fatty acid treatment in multiple sclerosis (OFAMS Study): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Neurol 2012;69:1044-51.
Disclosure:
- M. Cortese reports no disclosures.
- Ø. Bergmann reports no disclosures.
- D. Carlucci reports no disclosures.
- Ø. Torkildsen has received speaker honoraria or served on the scientific advisory board for Biogen, Sanofi-Aventis, Merck.
- S. Wergeland has received speaker honoraria from Biogen, Novartis.
- A.G. Beiske has received research support, travel funding or served on scientific advisory board for Genzyme and Teva and Novartis.
- H. Hovdal report no disclosures.
- R. Midgard has received speaker honoraria, travel funding or served on the scientific advisory board for Novartis Norway, Almirall, Merck and Sanofi Genzyme.
- T. Pedersen report no disclosures.
- K.-M. Myhr has received research support, speaker honoraria or served on the scientific advisory board for Almirall, Biogen, Genzyme, Novartis Norway, Roche or Teva.