Contributions
Abstract: P916
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 8 Clinical assessment tools
Background: Cognitive impairment, in particular processing speed deficits, is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and adds significantly to the burden of the disease. The value of brain MRI segmentation volumes in predicting processing speed has not been established enough.
Objective: To evaluate the association between brain MRI volume measures and processing speed in patients with MS over a 3 years follow-up.
Methods: A retrospective cohort of 60 MS patients at the American University of Beirut Multiple Sclerosis Center followed-up annually for 3 years was included in the study. All patients were on Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT). Patients were assessed clinically for disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and processing speed was evaluated using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). MRI measures were evaluated annually and included total intracranial volume (ICV), and lateral ventricles, total ventricles, thalamus, amygdala and hippocampus volumes. Baseline and yearly brain MRI volumes were correlated with SDMT scores, and linear regression was conducted to explore the best associations with cognitive outcome.
Results: 60 patients with MS were included with a mean age of 32.2 years (SD=11.9) and disease duration of 57.3 months (SD=86.3). Deficits in speed of processing information strongly correlated with lower thalamic volumes (p < 0.01), and higher lateral (p < 0.05) and total ventricular (p < 0.01) volumes at all 4 visits, as well as with lower intracranial volumes at three visits (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the SDMT score and the corpus callosum, amygdala or the hippocampus. Poor performance strongly correlated with a higher age and disease duration (p < 0.001) and higher EDSS values (p < 0.001) at all visits. On multivariable linear regression, total ventricular volume explained 35-44% of the variation of SDMT at 3 visits, when age, disease duration and EDSS were entered in the model. Thalamic volume explained 25-44% of the SDMT variation at the 3rd and 4th visit.
Conclusion: Brain atrophy measures strongly correlate with processing speed in MS patients as measured by SDMT. These findings highlight the essential role of brain MRIs volumes for identification of MS patients at highest risk of cognitive impairment.
Disclosure: There are no conflicts of interest in this study. Rami Fakih has nothing to disclose. Hala Darwish has nothing to disclose. Nancy Carol Issa has nothing to disclose. Salem Hannoun has nothing to disclose. Bassem Yamout has nothing to disclose. Samia Khoury has nothing to disclose.
This paper was funded by the Nehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center.
Abstract: P916
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 8 Clinical assessment tools
Background: Cognitive impairment, in particular processing speed deficits, is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and adds significantly to the burden of the disease. The value of brain MRI segmentation volumes in predicting processing speed has not been established enough.
Objective: To evaluate the association between brain MRI volume measures and processing speed in patients with MS over a 3 years follow-up.
Methods: A retrospective cohort of 60 MS patients at the American University of Beirut Multiple Sclerosis Center followed-up annually for 3 years was included in the study. All patients were on Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT). Patients were assessed clinically for disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and processing speed was evaluated using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). MRI measures were evaluated annually and included total intracranial volume (ICV), and lateral ventricles, total ventricles, thalamus, amygdala and hippocampus volumes. Baseline and yearly brain MRI volumes were correlated with SDMT scores, and linear regression was conducted to explore the best associations with cognitive outcome.
Results: 60 patients with MS were included with a mean age of 32.2 years (SD=11.9) and disease duration of 57.3 months (SD=86.3). Deficits in speed of processing information strongly correlated with lower thalamic volumes (p < 0.01), and higher lateral (p < 0.05) and total ventricular (p < 0.01) volumes at all 4 visits, as well as with lower intracranial volumes at three visits (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the SDMT score and the corpus callosum, amygdala or the hippocampus. Poor performance strongly correlated with a higher age and disease duration (p < 0.001) and higher EDSS values (p < 0.001) at all visits. On multivariable linear regression, total ventricular volume explained 35-44% of the variation of SDMT at 3 visits, when age, disease duration and EDSS were entered in the model. Thalamic volume explained 25-44% of the SDMT variation at the 3rd and 4th visit.
Conclusion: Brain atrophy measures strongly correlate with processing speed in MS patients as measured by SDMT. These findings highlight the essential role of brain MRIs volumes for identification of MS patients at highest risk of cognitive impairment.
Disclosure: There are no conflicts of interest in this study. Rami Fakih has nothing to disclose. Hala Darwish has nothing to disclose. Nancy Carol Issa has nothing to disclose. Salem Hannoun has nothing to disclose. Bassem Yamout has nothing to disclose. Samia Khoury has nothing to disclose.
This paper was funded by the Nehme and Therese Tohme Multiple Sclerosis Center.