Contributions
Abstract: 71
Type: Educational Session
Abstract Category: N/A
Relapsing-Remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) usually begins by a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), frequently myelitis, optic neuritis or a brainstem syndrome. At this early stage of the disease cognitive functioning could be impaired mainly on information processing speed (IPS) or episodic memory. The same kind of impairment has also been described in patients with radiologically isolated syndromes, before the occurrence of another clinical symptomatology. Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have been performed to characterize the pathological abnormalities associated with cognitive impairment (CI) at these early stages, using both morphological and functional analyses. The lesion load, or the location of lesions correlate poorly with CI in these populations. At these early stages, grey matter (GM) atrophy is absent or very limited. However other MRI techniques, such as magnetisation transfer imaging (MTI) or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were able to show diffuse abnormalities in the white matter (WM) or very early microstructural changes in the GM which can contribute to CI. Functional MRI studies gave evidence of brain reorganisation at these early stages suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanisms. Some key regions of the brain have been implicated in CI in these patients (thalamus, cerebellum, hippocampus etc
). The mechanisms underlying IPS and memory impairment are, largely, different and will be reviewed.
Disclosure: Pr Brochet or its institution received honoraria for consulting, speaking at scientific symposia, serving in advisory board or research support from Actelion, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Sanofi-Genzyme, Bayer, Medday, Roche, Teva, Novartis (all with approval by general director CHU de Bordeaux).
Abstract: 71
Type: Educational Session
Abstract Category: N/A
Relapsing-Remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) usually begins by a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), frequently myelitis, optic neuritis or a brainstem syndrome. At this early stage of the disease cognitive functioning could be impaired mainly on information processing speed (IPS) or episodic memory. The same kind of impairment has also been described in patients with radiologically isolated syndromes, before the occurrence of another clinical symptomatology. Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have been performed to characterize the pathological abnormalities associated with cognitive impairment (CI) at these early stages, using both morphological and functional analyses. The lesion load, or the location of lesions correlate poorly with CI in these populations. At these early stages, grey matter (GM) atrophy is absent or very limited. However other MRI techniques, such as magnetisation transfer imaging (MTI) or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were able to show diffuse abnormalities in the white matter (WM) or very early microstructural changes in the GM which can contribute to CI. Functional MRI studies gave evidence of brain reorganisation at these early stages suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanisms. Some key regions of the brain have been implicated in CI in these patients (thalamus, cerebellum, hippocampus etc
). The mechanisms underlying IPS and memory impairment are, largely, different and will be reviewed.
Disclosure: Pr Brochet or its institution received honoraria for consulting, speaking at scientific symposia, serving in advisory board or research support from Actelion, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono, Sanofi-Genzyme, Bayer, Medday, Roche, Teva, Novartis (all with approval by general director CHU de Bordeaux).