Corpus callosum atrophy--a simple predictor of multiple sclerosis progression: a longitudinal 9-year study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether corpus callosum atrophy predicts future clinical deterioration in multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
In 39 multiple sclerosis patients the area of corpus callosum in the sagittal plane, T2 and T1 lesion volumes, brain parenchymal fraction and brain atrophy were determined at baseline and 1 year after treatment initiation. Non-parametric and multiple regression models were built to identify the most reliable predictors of disability and of its changes over 9 years.


RESULTS
Corpus callosum atrophy during the first year of treatment was the best predictor of disability (r = -0.56) and of its increase at 9 years (r = 0.65). Corpus callosum atrophy of at least 2% predicted increase in disability with 93% sensitivity and 73% specificity (odds ratio = 35).


CONCLUSIONS
Corpus callosum atrophy is a simple and accurate predictor of future disability accumulation and is feasible for routine clinical practice.
MR Unit, Department of Radiodiagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic. man.van @ post.cz
M
M
Vaneckova
T
T
Kalincik
J
J
Krasensky
D
D
Horakova
E
E
Havrdova
T
T
Hrebikova
Z
Z
Seidl
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity