title: A voxel-based morphometry study of disease severity correlates in relapsing-- remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Previous studies have shown a preferential loss of grey matter in fronto-temporal regions in patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies of correlates of disease severity are more controversial, because some studies have suggested an association between sensorimotor cortex atrophy and Expanded Disability Status Scale score, while others did not find such a correlation. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation of regional loss of grey matter and white matter with indexes of clinical and radiological severity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, including the Expanded Disability Status Scale and lesion load. Correlations between Expanded Disability Status Scale, lesion load and disease duration were assessed in 128 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (Expanded Disability Status Scale range 1.0-6.0) using optimized voxel-based morphometry. Bilateral loss of grey matter in sensorimotor cortices was correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale, and tissue loss also involved adjacent white matter, extending along pyramidal tracts to the brainstem. Increasing lesion load was correlated with loss of deep grey matter and white matter. No specific region of grey matter or white matter showed a significant correlation with disease duration. These findings support the hypothesis that motor neuron involvement plays a major role in the progression of physical disability. Lesion load accrual affects mainly highly interconnected subcortical structures, while disease duration has a less significant impact on brain atrophy, probably owing to the inter-subject heterogeneity of the clinical course of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, National Research Council, Naples, Italy. anna.prinster@ibb.cnr.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prinster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quarantelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzillo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orefice
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: V Brescia
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult