Cognitive impairment in paediatric multiple sclerosis patients is not related to cortical lesions.
We investigated the contribution of cortical lesions to cognitive impairment in 41 paediatric MS patients. Thirteen (32%) paediatric MS patients were considered as cognitively impaired. T2-hyperintense and T1-hypointense white matter lesion volumes did not differ between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved MS patients. Cortical lesions number, cortical lesions volume and grey matter volume did not differ between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved patients, whereas white matter volume was significantly lower in cognitively impaired versus cognitively preserved MS patients (p=0.01). Contrary to adult MS, cortical lesions do not seem to contribute to cognitive impairment in paediatric MS patients, which is likely driven by white matter damage.
Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy/Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Maria A
MA
Rocca
Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy/Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Ermelinda
E
De Meo
Department of Neurology, University of Florence, Italy.
Maria P
MP
Amato
Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS-Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Foggia, Italy.
Massimiliano
M
Copetti
Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Lucia
L
Moiola
Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Ospedale di Gallarate, Italy.
Angelo
A
Ghezzi
Fondazione 'Istituto Neurologico Casimiro Mondino', Pavia, Italy.
Pierangelo
P
Veggiotti
Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Italy.
Ruggero
R
Capra
Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Agnese
A
Fiorino
Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Ospedale di Gallarate, Italy.
Lorena
L
Pippolo
Fondazione 'Istituto Neurologico Casimiro Mondino', Pavia, Italy.
Maria C
MC
Pera
Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Andrea
A
Falini
Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Giancarlo
G
Comi
Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy/Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy filippi.massimo@hsr.it.
Massimo
M
Filippi
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
MRI; Paediatric multiple sclerosis; cortical lesions; double inversion recovery; grey matter