title: Relationship between brain MRI lesion load and short-term disease evolution in non-disabling MS: a large-scale, multicentre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated clinical and conventional MRI features of a large population of patients with non-disabling MS to identify potential markers of a benign disease course.
  
  
  METHODS
  In seven MAGNIMS centres we retrospectively identified 182 patients with benign (B) MS (EDSS score ≤ 3.0, disease duration ≥ 15 years) and 187 patients with non-disabling relapsing-remitting MS (NDRRMS) (Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤ 3.0, disease duration between 5 and 14 years), in whom clinical data were collected within two weeks from a brain T2-weighted scan. Brain T2 lesion volume (LV) was measured in all patients. In 146 BMS and 146 NDRRMS patients, clinical data were also available after a median follow up of 29 months (range: 7-104 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean LV was higher in BMS than in NDRRMS patients (p<0.001), but the mean ratio between LV and disease duration was higher in NDRRMS than in BMS patients (1.1 vs. 0.6 ml/year, p<0.001). In BMS patients, brain LV was correlated with EDSS score increase at follow up (r=0.18, p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An overall low rate of brain LV increase during a long-lasting disease course might be a feature of BMS. In BMS patients, a high brain LV might be associated with worsening of locomotor disability at short-term follow up.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute and University Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rovaris
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.forename: Leonora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fisniku
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montalban
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira
authors.forename: Madeleine H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sombekke
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sormani
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stromillo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors