Contributions
Abstract: EP1503
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - MRI and PET
Background: Recent studies have found grey-matter (GM) lesions play an important role in multiple sclerosis (MS). GM lesions are present at disease onset and correlate better with cognitive and physical disabilities. The 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria added identification of cortical lesions as an MRI criterion for MS diagnosis. However, the relationship amongst GM lesion count and volume, with brain atrophy remains to be explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation of GM lesion counts and volume with total brain (TB), white-matter (WM), GM, and deep grey-matter (DGM) volumes. Comparison also made with clinical scores.
Methods: T1WI and double inversion recovery (DIR) at 3T were acquired on relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients (N=35) and 14 matched healthy controls. Lesions were segmented based on DIR. Brain volume segmentation done with FSL SIENAX and DGM volumes with FSL FIRST, normalized to age and brain size. Clinical data included 25-foot walk test.
Results: A total of 271 GM cortical lesions (CL) carefully contoured. In our cohort the average disease duration was 7 years. White matter atrophy was significant in RRMS when compared to controls (p=0.04), but not TB or GM atrophy. We also found a difference in DGM in thalamus, caudate, putamen, amygdala and accumbens between groups (p< 0.05).
GM cortical lesion count significantly correlated with GM (p=0.004) and TB (p=0.005) volume, but not with WM volume. GM CL volume correlated with GM, WM, TB and putamen volume (p< 0.05).
RRMS divided into less severe (< 5s) and more severe (≥5s) disability based on 25-foot walk test. Significant differences were found in thalamus, caudate, putamen hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens and brainstem volume atrophy between less and more severe disability group.
Conclusion: Increased GM lesions counts and volume negatively correlated with TB, GM, and DGM volume atrophy, emphasizing the importance of identifying GM CL lesions. More physical disability, as measured with 25-foot walk test, negatively correlated with DGM atrophy. Improved understanding of GM lesion count and volume with respective to various regional brain atrophy could improve understanding MS pathophysiology and its effects in cognitive and physical disability. Future studies will need to focus on longitudinal data to assess volume changes as well as include cognitive tests.
Disclosure: M. Andrea Parra: no disclosures. Sindhuja Tirumalai Govindarajan: no disclosures. Lev Bangiyev: no disclosures. Patricia K. Coyle: no disclosures. Olga Syritsyna: no disclosures. Tim Q. Duong: no disclosures.
Abstract: EP1503
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - MRI and PET
Background: Recent studies have found grey-matter (GM) lesions play an important role in multiple sclerosis (MS). GM lesions are present at disease onset and correlate better with cognitive and physical disabilities. The 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria added identification of cortical lesions as an MRI criterion for MS diagnosis. However, the relationship amongst GM lesion count and volume, with brain atrophy remains to be explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation of GM lesion counts and volume with total brain (TB), white-matter (WM), GM, and deep grey-matter (DGM) volumes. Comparison also made with clinical scores.
Methods: T1WI and double inversion recovery (DIR) at 3T were acquired on relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients (N=35) and 14 matched healthy controls. Lesions were segmented based on DIR. Brain volume segmentation done with FSL SIENAX and DGM volumes with FSL FIRST, normalized to age and brain size. Clinical data included 25-foot walk test.
Results: A total of 271 GM cortical lesions (CL) carefully contoured. In our cohort the average disease duration was 7 years. White matter atrophy was significant in RRMS when compared to controls (p=0.04), but not TB or GM atrophy. We also found a difference in DGM in thalamus, caudate, putamen, amygdala and accumbens between groups (p< 0.05).
GM cortical lesion count significantly correlated with GM (p=0.004) and TB (p=0.005) volume, but not with WM volume. GM CL volume correlated with GM, WM, TB and putamen volume (p< 0.05).
RRMS divided into less severe (< 5s) and more severe (≥5s) disability based on 25-foot walk test. Significant differences were found in thalamus, caudate, putamen hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens and brainstem volume atrophy between less and more severe disability group.
Conclusion: Increased GM lesions counts and volume negatively correlated with TB, GM, and DGM volume atrophy, emphasizing the importance of identifying GM CL lesions. More physical disability, as measured with 25-foot walk test, negatively correlated with DGM atrophy. Improved understanding of GM lesion count and volume with respective to various regional brain atrophy could improve understanding MS pathophysiology and its effects in cognitive and physical disability. Future studies will need to focus on longitudinal data to assess volume changes as well as include cognitive tests.
Disclosure: M. Andrea Parra: no disclosures. Sindhuja Tirumalai Govindarajan: no disclosures. Lev Bangiyev: no disclosures. Patricia K. Coyle: no disclosures. Olga Syritsyna: no disclosures. Tim Q. Duong: no disclosures.