Age-related brain parenchymal fraction is significantly decreased in young multiple sclerosis patients: a quantitative MRI study.
The extent of brain atrophy was determined in 33 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in 60 healthy subjects (21-76 years) by calculating brain parenchymal fractions (BPF, the ratio of brain parenchymal to intracranial volume) from 3D MRI. Within the normal data base, subjects at higher ages showed significantly lower BPF values. In younger MS patients, BPF was significantly decreased compared with age-matched controls (20-29 years, p= 0.0022; 30-39 years, =p 0.0001; 40-49 years,p = 0.0444) and was significantly correlated with disease duration and disease severity, but not with the number of detectable MS lesions. Determination of age-related BPF demonstrated significant brain atrophy in early MS and can be considered as a useful biological marker for monitoring MS.
Kassubek
Jan
J
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Tumani
Hayrettin
H
Ecker
Daniel
D
Kurt
Anja
A
Ludolph
Albert C
AC
Juengling
Freimut D
FD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis*