title: SPECT, MRI and cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Seventeen patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and mild physical disability had neuropsychological testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) using technetium 99m (99mTc) hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime (HMPAO). Performance in verbal fluency, naming and memory testing appeared to be impaired in MS patients compared with 17 age-sex and education matched normal controls. Weighted periventricular and confluent lesion scores and the width of the third ventricle, proved to be the most sensitive MRI measures in differentiating more cognitively impaired patients from those who were relatively unimpaired. Ratios of regional to whole brain activity, measured by SPECT, showed significant reduction in the frontal lobes and in the left temporal lobe of MS patients. A relationship was found between left temporal abnormality in 99mTc-HMPAO uptake and deficit in verbal fluency and verbal memory. Finally, asymmetrical lobar activity indicated a predominant left rather than right temporo-parietal involvement.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome, Department of Neurological Science, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Passafiume
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incoccia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bozzao
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fieschi
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime