title: MRI and cognitive patterns in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: We studied the relationships between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) in 64 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI films were scored according to arbitrary descriptive criteria designed to emphasize patterns of alterations. Five groups were created: group 1 and 2 had typical discrete white matter lesions, group 3 had confluent lesions, group 4 had large discrete lesions and group 5 had only few small lesions. In addition, groups 2 and 3 had evidence of parenchymal atrophy. Groups 2 and 3 were the most impaired on the LNNB, but none of these patients was actually demented. Groups 1 and 5 were globally intact in spite of very different mean age and MRI pattern. Group 4 was composed of younger subjects with a shorter disease duration; they showed mild loss of attentive and abstracting abilities. We suggest that since their MRI was showing greater signs of local biological activity their mental deficits may be a transitory condition capable of two distinct outcomes: a favorable one as in groups 1 and 5, and a slowly progressive one associated with loss of brain tissue as in groups 2 and 3.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Multiple Sclerosis University Center, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pugnetti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Biserni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cazzullo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valsecchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008182:Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence