title: Grey matter volume in a large cohort of MS patients: relation to MRI parameters and disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although grey matter damage in multiple sclerosis is currently recognized, determinants of grey matter volume and its relationship with disability are not yet clear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study were to measure grey and white matter volumes across different disease phenotypes; identify MRI parameters associated with grey matter volume; and study grey and white matter volume as explanatory variables for clinical impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study in which MRI data of 95 clinically isolated syndrome, 657 relapsing-remitting, 125 secondary-progressive and 50 primary-progressive multiple sclerosis patients from three centres were acquired. Grey and white matter volumes were determined, together with T2 and T1 lesion volumes. Physical disability was assessed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, cognitive impairment with the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task. Data were analysed using multiple regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grey matter volume was lower in relapsing-remitting patients (mean [SD]: 0.80 [0.05] L) than in clinically isolated syndrome patients (0.82 [0.05] L), and even greater relative atrophy was found in secondary-progressive patients (0.77 [0.05] L). In contrast, white matter volume in secondary-progressive patients was comparable to that in relapsing-remitting patients. Grey matter volume was the strongest independent predictor of physical disability and cognitive impairment, and was associated with both T2 and T1 lesion volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that grey matter volume is lower in secondary-progressive than in relapsing-remitting disease. Grey matter volume explained physical and cognitive impairment better than white matter volume, and is itself associated with T2 and T1 lesion volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.roosendaal@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Stefan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Roosendaal
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendfeldt
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vrenken
authors.forename: Chris H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.forename: Ernst W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Radue
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: Jeroen J G
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Geurts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size