title: MRI characteristics of familial and sporadic multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the MRI characteristics in a large cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with and without a family history of MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled in this prospective study were 758 consecutive MS patients (mean age 46.2 ± 10.1 years, disease duration 13.6 ± 9.2 years and EDSS 3.4 ± 2.1), of whom 477 had relapsing-remitting, 222 secondary-progressive, and 30 primary-progressive disease courses and 29 had clinically isolated syndrome. One hundred and ninety-six patients (25.9%) had a positive family history of MS. Patients were assessed using measurements of lesions, brain atrophy, magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and diffusion-weighted imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The familial MS group had greater T1-lesion volume (p=0.009) and a trend for lower MTR of T1-lesion volume (p=0.047) than the sporadic MS group. No clinical differences were found between familial versus sporadic group, or by a degree of affected relative subgroups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While familial MS was associated with more severe T1-lesion volume and its MTR characteristics, there were no clinical status differences between familial and sporadic MS patients. Therefore, a better understanding of the genetic and/or epigenetic influences causing these differences can advance the understanding and management of MS.
authors.affiliation: Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, State University of New York, USA.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tipirneni
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinstock-Guttman
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hagemeier
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durfee
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Teter
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hojnacki
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zivadinov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*