Contributions
Abstract: P946
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - 12 Pathology
Introduction: Systemic Vascular Disease (VD) associates to faster disability progression and increased white matter (WM) lesion load as assessed with brain imaging. The relationship between objectively measured systemic VD and MS pathological features has not been explored so far.
Methods: post mortem brain tissue was obtained from a human autopsy cohort of MS cases where systemic VD was assessed from autopsy reports. Plaque areas were obtained from frontal WM, occipital WM, pons, basal ganglia and frontal/occipital cortex PLP-immunostained sections. The percentage of total plaque in all areas was obtained for each case. PGM1 stained sections were used to assess plaque activity. Cases were binned within each age decade, above and below the median vascular disease scores (VDS). Percentage of WM, cortical plaque area and percentage of active plaques were compared between cases with low and high VDS considering all cases within each decade and between cases in the lower and upper quartiles of VDS.
Results: A total of 42 MS cases were included (mean age 60.60 ±12.94 years, 57.4% females, mean disease duration 19.9±12.76 years). Total number of plaques was lower in cases with high VDS (p=0.047). There were no significant differences between cases in total WM plaque area between cases low and high VDS (p=0.39) but when extremes of VDS were compared cases with higher VDS had significantly lower total WM plaque area (p=0.03). No differences were found in cortical demyelination (p=0.68) between cases with low and high VDS, at extreme VDS. Mean percentage of active plaques was 54.56±7.255 in cases with low VDS and 38.72±10.81 in those with high VDS (p=0.31).
Conclusion: Systemic VD did not contribute to increased MS WM and cortical plaque burden nor to increased plaque activity in this cohort. Concomitant vascular pathology may explain worse clinical outcomes in MS cases with vascular comorbidities.
Disclosure:
Ruth Geraldes:has received support for scientific meetings and courses and honorariums for advisory work from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Bayer Schering, Merck Serono.
Margaret Esiri:nothing to disclosure
Jacqueline Palace: has received support for scientific meetings and honorariums for advisory work from Merck Serono, ABIDE, Biogen Idec, Roche, Novartis, Alexion, Medimmune, Teva, Chugai Pharma and Bayer Schering, and unrestricted grants from Merck Serono, Novartis, Biogen Idec and Bayer Schering. Grants from the MS society. GMSI, NIHR and Guthy- Jackson Foundation for research studies. Run Nationally commissioned services for CMS and NMO.
Gabriele DeLuca:nothing to disclosure
Abstract: P946
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - 12 Pathology
Introduction: Systemic Vascular Disease (VD) associates to faster disability progression and increased white matter (WM) lesion load as assessed with brain imaging. The relationship between objectively measured systemic VD and MS pathological features has not been explored so far.
Methods: post mortem brain tissue was obtained from a human autopsy cohort of MS cases where systemic VD was assessed from autopsy reports. Plaque areas were obtained from frontal WM, occipital WM, pons, basal ganglia and frontal/occipital cortex PLP-immunostained sections. The percentage of total plaque in all areas was obtained for each case. PGM1 stained sections were used to assess plaque activity. Cases were binned within each age decade, above and below the median vascular disease scores (VDS). Percentage of WM, cortical plaque area and percentage of active plaques were compared between cases with low and high VDS considering all cases within each decade and between cases in the lower and upper quartiles of VDS.
Results: A total of 42 MS cases were included (mean age 60.60 ±12.94 years, 57.4% females, mean disease duration 19.9±12.76 years). Total number of plaques was lower in cases with high VDS (p=0.047). There were no significant differences between cases in total WM plaque area between cases low and high VDS (p=0.39) but when extremes of VDS were compared cases with higher VDS had significantly lower total WM plaque area (p=0.03). No differences were found in cortical demyelination (p=0.68) between cases with low and high VDS, at extreme VDS. Mean percentage of active plaques was 54.56±7.255 in cases with low VDS and 38.72±10.81 in those with high VDS (p=0.31).
Conclusion: Systemic VD did not contribute to increased MS WM and cortical plaque burden nor to increased plaque activity in this cohort. Concomitant vascular pathology may explain worse clinical outcomes in MS cases with vascular comorbidities.
Disclosure:
Ruth Geraldes:has received support for scientific meetings and courses and honorariums for advisory work from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Bayer Schering, Merck Serono.
Margaret Esiri:nothing to disclosure
Jacqueline Palace: has received support for scientific meetings and honorariums for advisory work from Merck Serono, ABIDE, Biogen Idec, Roche, Novartis, Alexion, Medimmune, Teva, Chugai Pharma and Bayer Schering, and unrestricted grants from Merck Serono, Novartis, Biogen Idec and Bayer Schering. Grants from the MS society. GMSI, NIHR and Guthy- Jackson Foundation for research studies. Run Nationally commissioned services for CMS and NMO.
Gabriele DeLuca:nothing to disclosure