Brain atrophy at onset and physical disability in multiple sclerosis.
The aim of this study was to investigate if brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during the disease onset predicts long term disability.


METHODS
MS patients with follow-up time of at least 7 years from disease onset and with baseline and second magnetic resonance 12 months later were included to measure brain atrophy. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was categorized in three groups, EDSS=0, EDSS=1 and 2.5 and EDSS>2.5, and used as disability measure.


RESULTS
Twenty-six patients were included. Mean atrophy during the first year in patients that reached an EDSS≥3 was -0.76±0.45 %, in patients with an EDSS between 1 and 2.5 was -0.59±0.56, while in patients with an EDSS of 0 it was -0.38±0.42 (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Brain atrophy rates during the first year of disease were predictive of disease progression in our population.
Neurology Department, MS Section, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. juan.rojas@ hospitalitaliano.org.ar
Juan Ignacio
JI
Rojas
Liliana
L
Patrucco
Cristina
C
Besada
Laura
L
Bengolea
Edgardo
E
Cristiano
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors