title: Primary progressive multiple sclerosis: a 5-year clinical and MR study.
abstract: Longitudinal imaging studies of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) have shown significant changes in MR measures over 1 to 2 years. Correlation with clinical change over the same period has not been evident; we investigated the possibility that this is because the period of observation was insufficient for these associations to become apparent. Forty-one patients with PPMS were followed prospectively for 5 years. Patients had clinical [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite Measure (MSFC)] and MRI assessment (brain and spinal cord) at baseline, 1, 2 and 5 years. At 5 years, significant deterioration was seen in all clinical and MRI measures (P<0.01, P<0.001 respectively). Associations were seen between increase in EDSS score and decrease in cord area (r=0.31, P<0.05) and between increase in MSFC and both rate of ventricular enlargement (r=0.31, P<0.05) and increase in T2 load (r=0.31, P<0.05). The rates of change of MR measures were not associated with age or disease duration and were more consistent within than between patients. Longer duration of follow-up demonstrates modest associations between change in clinical and MR measures and provides new insights into the pattern of change within and between individuals with PPMS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Uuniversity College, London, UK.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Ingle
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology