Functional MRI during the execution of a motor task in patients with multiple sclerosis and fatigue.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to assess cortical activation during execution of a motor task in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and fatigue.


METHODS
We enrolled 24 right-handed patients affected by relapsing-remitting MS and mild disability (12 with and 12 without fatigue) and 15 healthy volunteers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination (1.5 T) was performed with conventional sequences and an echoplanar imaging (EPI) sequence for functional MRI (fMRI). The motor task consisted of sequential finger tapping performed with the right hand. Statistical maps of motor activation were obtained. Comparison between the two subgroups of patients and between patients and controls was performed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis (p<0.05).


RESULTS
Compared with controls, patients without fatigue showed greater activation of the primary sensorimotor cortex bilaterally, of the right supplementary motor cortex, of the left premotor cortex, of the left cerebellum and of the superior parietal lobule bilaterally. Compared with patients without fatigue, patients with fatigue demonstrated greater activation of the right premotor area, of the putamen and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with fatigue have greater activation of the motor-attentional network when performing a simple motor task.
U.C.O. di Radiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria AOUTS, Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy. ilaria_specogna@yahoo.it
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I
Specogna
F
F
Casagrande
A
A
Lorusso
M
M
Catalan
A
A
Gorian
L
L
Zugna
R
R
Longo
M
M
Zorzon
M
M
Naccarato
G
G
Pizzolato
M
M
Ukmar
M A
MA
Cova
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011788:Quality of Life