Grey matter atrophy in patients with benign multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Brain atrophy appears during the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is associated with the disability caused by the disease. Methods:We investigated global and regional grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes, WM lesion load, and corpus callosum index (CCI), in benign relapsingremitting MS (BRRMS, n = 35) with and without any treatment and compared those to aggressive relapsing-remitting MS (ARRMS, n = 46). Structures were analyzed by using an automated MRI quantification tool (cNeuro®). Results:The total brain and cerebral WM volumes were larger in BRRMS than in ARRMS (p = .014, p = .017 respectively). In BRRMS, total brain volumes, regional GM volumes, and CCI were found similar whether or not disease-modifying treatment (DMT) was used. The total (p = .033), as well as subcortical (p = .046) and deep WM (p = .041) lesion load volumes were larger in BRRMS patients without DMT. Cortical GM volumes did not differ between BRRMS and ARRMS, but the volumes of total brain tissue (p = .014) and thalami (p = .003) were larger in patients with BRRMS compared to ARRMS. A positive correlation was found between CCI and whole-brain volume in both BRRMS (r = .73, p < .001) and ARRMS (r = .80, p < .01).Conclusions: Thalamic volume is the most prominent measure to differentiate BRRMS and ARRMS. Validation of automated quantification of CCI provides an additional applicable MRI biomarker to detect brain atrophy in MS.

Early-stage volume losses in the corpus callosum and thalamus predict the progression of brain atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis

“…Location, unique functions, and vulnerability to MS neuropathology from the earliest disease stages render the thalamus a critical barometer of diffuse neuropathologic damage in MS patients 18 . To date, thalamic atrophy has been associated with the evolution of de nite MS and disability progression in early RRMS patients and with the evolution of PPMS [23][24][25] . Therefore, our results were basically in accordance with these previous studies.…”

Article Review: Multiple Sclerosis

“…Benign multiple sclerosis (MS) pertains to a certain subset of individuals diagnosed with MS, commonly characterized by relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), who manifest relatively mild symptoms and demonstrate limited progression of disability over a prolonged duration. (75,76) Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) is distinguished by a singular clinical occurrence of neurological symptoms that suggest a possible connection with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as opposed to being categorized as a separate subtype of the condition (77). Some individuals who have been diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) may experience a progression leading to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) (78).…”

Gaining Biological Insights through Supervised Data Visualization

“…In this direction, Golan et al [43] found that computerized cognitive scores were significantly associated with quantified MRI. Additionally, Niiranen et al [44] identified grey matter volume as a significant measure for distinguishing between EDSS-based BMS and non-BMS cases. To summarize, there is still no general agreement for the definition for BMS, but active research is being conducted toward an updated definition which covers a fuller spectrum of MS disease activity.…”