Contributions
Abstract: 134
Type: Oral
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 3 Paediatric MS
Background: There is growing evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a neurodegenerative component. To date only one longitudinal study has been conducted in pediatric patients concluding that MS onset during childhood limits age-expected primary brain growth and leads to subsequent brain atrophy.
Objectives: Aim of this study is to define regional grey matter (GM) pattern of atrophy progression in pediatric MS patients and to explore the correlations with clinical and conventional MRI measures.
Methods: Using a 3.0 T scanner, dual-echo and 3D T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired from 31 pediatric MS patients at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. As control group, 119 participants from the NIH-funded MRI study of normal brain development acquired at 3-year interval were used. We applied tensor-based morphometry to build three-dimensional maps of volumetric changes by matching brain scans acquired at two time points.
Results: Bilateral hippocampus, middle and inferior frontal gyrus, middle and posterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex and right calcarine cortex showed significant atrophy in pediatric MS patients compared to HC. In addition, compared to HC, pediatric MS patients showed reduced volumes of deep GM structures such as bilateral thalamus and left putamen that appeared to be significantly correlated with lesion volume. No significant correlations were found with clinical variables.
Conclusions: Neurodegeneration represents an early aspect of MS pathology, only partially related to inflammation, emphasizing the importance of implementing neuroprotective strategies in order to prevent disability accrual starting from the earliest phases of disease.
Partially supported by grants from Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2009-1529671) and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla (FISM2011/R/19, FISM 2012/R/8, FISM-2016-R-23)
Disclosure:
E. De Meo, E. Pagani, L. Moiola, P. Veggiotti, R. Capra, M.P. Amato, A. Fiorino, L. Pippolo, M.C. Pera, A. Falini have nothing to disclose
A. Ghezzi received honoraria for speaking from Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, Teva, and Allergan, and for consultancy from Merck-Serono, Teva, Novartis, and Biogen-Idec, and received support for participation in National and International Congresses from Schering, Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, and Teva.
M.A. Rocca received speakers honoraria from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Teva Neurosciences and Genzyme and receives research support from the Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.
G. Comi has received compensation for consulting services for Novartis, Teva, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck, Biogen, Excemed, Roche, Almirall, Chugai, Receptos, and Forward Pharma, and compensation for speaking activities for Novartis, Teva, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck, Biogen, Excemed, and Roche.
M. Filippi is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology; serves on a scientific advisory board for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Novartis, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Cure PSP, Alzheimer´s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the Jacques and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation (Switzerland), and ARiSLA (Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA).
Abstract: 134
Type: Oral
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - 3 Paediatric MS
Background: There is growing evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a neurodegenerative component. To date only one longitudinal study has been conducted in pediatric patients concluding that MS onset during childhood limits age-expected primary brain growth and leads to subsequent brain atrophy.
Objectives: Aim of this study is to define regional grey matter (GM) pattern of atrophy progression in pediatric MS patients and to explore the correlations with clinical and conventional MRI measures.
Methods: Using a 3.0 T scanner, dual-echo and 3D T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired from 31 pediatric MS patients at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. As control group, 119 participants from the NIH-funded MRI study of normal brain development acquired at 3-year interval were used. We applied tensor-based morphometry to build three-dimensional maps of volumetric changes by matching brain scans acquired at two time points.
Results: Bilateral hippocampus, middle and inferior frontal gyrus, middle and posterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex and right calcarine cortex showed significant atrophy in pediatric MS patients compared to HC. In addition, compared to HC, pediatric MS patients showed reduced volumes of deep GM structures such as bilateral thalamus and left putamen that appeared to be significantly correlated with lesion volume. No significant correlations were found with clinical variables.
Conclusions: Neurodegeneration represents an early aspect of MS pathology, only partially related to inflammation, emphasizing the importance of implementing neuroprotective strategies in order to prevent disability accrual starting from the earliest phases of disease.
Partially supported by grants from Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2009-1529671) and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla (FISM2011/R/19, FISM 2012/R/8, FISM-2016-R-23)
Disclosure:
E. De Meo, E. Pagani, L. Moiola, P. Veggiotti, R. Capra, M.P. Amato, A. Fiorino, L. Pippolo, M.C. Pera, A. Falini have nothing to disclose
A. Ghezzi received honoraria for speaking from Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, Teva, and Allergan, and for consultancy from Merck-Serono, Teva, Novartis, and Biogen-Idec, and received support for participation in National and International Congresses from Schering, Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Genzyme, and Teva.
M.A. Rocca received speakers honoraria from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Teva Neurosciences and Genzyme and receives research support from the Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.
G. Comi has received compensation for consulting services for Novartis, Teva, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck, Biogen, Excemed, Roche, Almirall, Chugai, Receptos, and Forward Pharma, and compensation for speaking activities for Novartis, Teva, Sanofi, Genzyme, Merck, Biogen, Excemed, and Roche.
M. Filippi is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology; serves on a scientific advisory board for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; has received compensation for consulting services and/or speaking activities from Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; and receives research support from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Novartis, Italian Ministry of Health, Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla, Cure PSP, Alzheimer´s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), the Jacques and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation (Switzerland), and ARiSLA (Fondazione Italiana di Ricerca per la SLA).