多发性硬化患者生活质量评估及其影响因素探讨

目的评估多发性硬化患者生活质量水平,并探讨其影响因素。方法收集2012年7月~2016年12月就诊于河南省人民医院复发缓解型多发性硬化患者(relapsing-remitting MS,RRMS)36例,继发进展性多发性硬化患者(secondary progressive MS,SPMS)21例作为研究对象。采用多发性硬化生活质量54项评分(Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 instrument,MSQo L-54)测试MS患者的生活质量;对所有研究对象进行认知功能、抑郁状态、疲劳、睡眠质量及日常生活能力评估。结果 (1)RRMS组及SPMS组患者躯体生活质量(RRMS组58.62±16.32;SPMS组28.77±15.99,P=0.000)、精神生活质量(RRMS组57.33±16.72;SPMS组36.27±23.50,P=0.000)均有下降,SPMS组下降更明显。多元逐步回归法分析,与MS生活质量相关因素中,Hamilton抑郁量表评分处于第一位(β=-0.516,P<0.001),其次为反应躯体化残疾程度的EDSS评分(β=-0.372,P<0.001),第三位为疲劳评分(β=-0.250,P=0.002)。结论 MS患者有不同程度的生活质量下降,SPMS患者更明显。EDSS评分、抑郁、疲劳影响患者生活质量,早期干预抑郁及疲劳,对于改善MS患者生活质量有益。     

多发性硬化患者外周血T淋巴细胞受体β链可变区多态性研究

目的探讨多发性硬化(MS)不同阶段外周血T淋巴细胞受体β链可变区(TCRVβ)多态性的特点。方法收集首都医科大学宣武医院神经内科临床孤立综合征(CIS)患者30例、复发-缓解型多发性硬化(RRMS)患者40例、继发-进展型多发性硬化(SPMS)患者10例、健康对照者30名,经TCRVβ单克隆抗体标记后采用流式细胞仪分析各组外周血TCRVβ扩增程度以及TCRVβ24个亚家族扩增患者百分比、扩增片段所占百分比的差异。结果 CIS、RRMS及SPMS组TCRVβ存在扩增患者比例、扩增个数和扩增分数均高于对照组(P0.01),而CIS、RRMS及SPMS组间比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。CIS、RRMS及SPMS组CD4+TCRVβ2扩增频率均高于对照组(P0.008),CIS组、RRMS及SPMS组CD8+TCRVβ11表达水平均低于对照组(P0.05),SPMS组CD4+TCRVβ21.3表达水平低于CIS组(P0.05)。ROC曲线分析提示CD8+TCRVβ11的扩增片段所占百分比对MS诊断具有一定价值,对MS分型无诊断价值;CD4+TCRVβ21.3的扩增片段所占百分比对SPMS诊断具有一定价值。结论可通过检测部分TCRVβ片段对MS及SPMS的早期诊断提供相关依据。     

多发性硬化病人血清和脑脊液壳三糖苷酶活性的研究

目的探讨多发性硬化(MS)病人血清和脑脊液(CSF)壳三糖苷酶(CTTS)活性以及CSF免疫活化和炎症标志物。方法选择三所医院178例MS病人,其中复发缓解型MS(RRMS)120例,继发进展型MS(SPMS)32例,原发进展型MS(PPMS)26例,并选取40例其他神经疾患(OND)和30非神经疾患病人作为对照组,检测血清和CSF中CTTS活性及CSF单核细胞数(MNC)和鞘内IgG产物。结果 MS病人与OND组和对照组比较,CSF中CTTS活性明显升高,但血清不升高。RRMS和SPMS组CTTS指数高于对照组,但PPMS组正常。在伴有MNC升高或CSF寡克隆IgG区带的MS病人,CTTS指数高于无此表现者。结论 RRMS和SPMS病人CCTS指数升高,CCTS指数与CSF炎症或免疫活化标志物有关。     

多发性硬化与认知功能障碍

多发性硬化(multiple Sclerosis, MS)是中枢神经系统最常见的脱髓鞘疾病,常分为复发-缓解型(RRMS)、原发进展型(PPMS)及继发进展型(SPMS)三种类型.MS不仅可以导致患者躯体残疾,还常常造成不同程度认知功能损害.提高临床医师对MS认知障碍的认识,并及早采取有效的干预措施,可有效改善MS患者的预后.     

多发性硬化与慢性脑脊髓静脉功能不全

多发性硬化(Multiple sclerosis, MS)是病因未明的中枢神经系统炎性脱髓鞘疾病,通常把MS分为4种亚型:即复发缓解型MS(Relapsing-remitting MS,RRMS)、继发进展型MS(Secondary-progressive MS,SPMS)、原发进展型MS(Primary-progressive MS,PPMS)及进展复发型MS(Progressive-relapsing MS,PRMS),其中RRMS最为常见约占80%～85%.核磁共振静脉成像[1]和尸体解剖研究[2]发现MS病灶分布与颅内静脉系统相关.Zamboni等提出慢性脑脊髓静脉功能不全(Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, CCSVI)可能参与了多发性硬化的发生发展[3～5],对传统MS的病因提出了挑战,为治疗提供了新途径,本文将对其观点进行综述.     

静脉滴注免疫球蛋白治疗多发性硬化随机对照试验的meta分析

目的 系统评价静脉滴注免疫球蛋白(intravenous immunoglobulin,IVIG)维持治疗多发性硬化(multiple sclerosis,MS)的临床疗效.方法 采崩Cochrane系统评价方法,通过电子检索MEDLINE、EMbas、CBMdisc、Cochrane Library、ISI和美国临床试验登记中心等的数据库文献(1990～2008).评价纳入文献的方法学质量后,采用RevMan 4.2.10软件对提取的数据进行分析.结果 共纳入10个随机对照试验研究.IVIG治疗组与安慰剂组比较,研究期限内复发缓解型多发性硬化(relapsing-remitting muhiple sclerosis,RRMS)患者的复发状况差异有统计学意义(P=0.04,OR:0.40.95%CI=0.19～0.86),RRMS患者EDSS评分的变化差异有统计学意义(P＜0.0001,WMD=-0.27,95%CI=-0.40～-0.13),不同剂量IVIG(每个月0.2 g/kg与0.4 g/kg)治疗RRMS的复发状况比较差异无统计学意义(P=0.69,OR=1.16,95%CI=0.56～2.41);IVIG与干扰素-β1a治疗RRMS的疗效比较,显示二者均能降低疾病的复发率,二者之间无统计学差异(P＞0.1),而在治疗前后EDSS评分的比较中,仅IVIG治疗前后的差异有统计学意义.IVIG治疗组与安慰剂组比较,研究期限内进展型MS患者的疾病进展状况差异无统计学意义(P=0.32,OR=0.68,95%CI=0.31～1.46),继发进展型多发性硬化(secondary-progressivemultiple sclerosis,SPMS)患者的复发状况差异无统计学意义(P=0.70,OR=0.93,95%CI=0.66～1.32).结论 IVIG用于维持治疗MS,其安全性好,可降低RRMS的复发率及EDSS评分显示的神经功能障碍.不同剂量的IVIG治疗RRMS无剂量-效应关系.IVIG与干扰素-β1a均能降低RRMS的复发率,IVIG改善神经功能方面的疗效优于低剂量的干扰素-β1a.目前尚不能认为IVIG用于进展型MS的维持治疗可以阻止疾病的进展及复发.     

多发性硬化患者血清维生素D水平变化及与临床相关性研究

目的观察多发性硬化(MS)患者体内维生素D水平,探讨维生素D水平与MS临床表型的关系。方法收集MS患者72例,包括复发缓解型MS(RRMS)62例、继发进展型MS(SPMS)7例及原发进展型MS(PPMS)3例;视神经脊髓炎(NMO)患者24例;以32名健康体检者为健康对照组(NC组)。采用电化学发光法对血清25-羟维生素D_3[25-hydroxyvitamin D_3,25(OH)D_3]进行检测,所有MS患者在留取血标本的同时进行扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分,对其中15例急性复发期RRMS患者在缓解期再次行血清25(OH)D_3检测和EDSS评分。结果 MS组、NC组及NMO组间血清25(OH)D_3水平比较差异有统计学意义(F=10.55,P0.01),MS组及NMO组均低于NC组(分别P0.01,P0.05),但MS组与NMO组相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05);SPMS患者血清25(OH)D_3水平低于NC组(P0.01),但与RRMS患者比较无统计学差异(P0.05);RRMS患者血清25(OH)D_3水平缓解期高于急性复发期(t=2.92,P0.05),但仍低于NC组(P0.01)。结论 MS及NMO患者体内维生素D不足,且维生素D不足贯穿于MS的不同病程阶段,RRMS患者急性复发期维生素D不足更为明显。     

多发性硬化、临床孤立综合征患者脑脊液β-淀粉样肽水平及其意义研究

目的 探讨多发性硬化(MS)及其早期表现-临床孤立综合征(CIS)患者脑脊液β-淀粉样肽(Aβ42)表达水平及其与病程、神经功能缺失以及MRI T2高信号病灶数量的关系.方法 对33例MS患者、23例CIS患者及13例对照者进行研究,MS、CIS患者发作期进行扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分及MRI检查,采用液相芯片分析技术检测各组患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度.结果 MS、CIS患者发作期脑脊液Aβ42浓度与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但继发进展型MS(SPMS)患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度[(167.99±36.39)pg/mL]比复发缓解型MS(RRMS)患者[(92.74±13.64)pg/mL]高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.042).MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度与病程及EDSS评分无明显相关性(P>0.05).病程≥1年的MS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度比病程<1年的患者低,EDSS评分≥4.5分的MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度比EDSS评分<4.5分的患者低,但差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度与MRI T2高信号病灶数量呈正相关关系(MS患者:r=0.507.P=0.038;CIS患者:r=0.485,P=0.049).MRI T2高信号病灶总数≥4个的MS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度[(129.34±19.96)pg/mL]比病灶总数<4个的MS患者[(73.51±12.60)pg/mL]高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.049).结论 SPMS患者轴突损伤比RRMS患者严重;脑脊液Aβ42水平升高可能是MS病情进展的标记之一;MRI T2高信号病灶负荷可能与MS轴突损伤有关.     

多发性硬化患者糖皮质激素受体和甲基强的松龙疗效的关系

目的比较复发-缓解型多发性硬化(RRMS)、继发-进展型多发性硬化(SPMS)患者激素冲击治疗前、中、后外周血单核细胞(PBMC)中糖皮质激素受体(GR)蛋白含量和健康对照组的差异及其与甲基强的松龙(MP)疗效的关系。方法采用放射配体结合法测定45例健康成人、30例RRMS和6例SPMS患者PBMC中GR蛋白含量;使用扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评价MP疗效。结果(1)治疗前RRMS和SPMS患者的GR蛋白含量分别为(3765.83±1053.24)位点/细胞和(1599.67±448.79)位点/细胞,均低于健康对照组[(4249.09±616.10)位点/细胞](P<0.05);治疗中,RRMS和SPMS患者的GR蛋白含量分别为(3127.57±970.06)位点/细胞和(1219.67±346.27)位点/细胞,两者较治疗前均有下调(P<0.05);治疗后RRMS患者的GR蛋白含量上升至(4487.20±1473.18)位点/细胞,与健康对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),而SPMS患者的GR蛋白含量上升至(3115.50±868.83)位点/细胞,但仍低于健康对照组(P<0.05)。(2)RRMS患者治疗后EDSS降至(2.70±1.80)分,与治疗前的(3.97±1.76)分相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);SPMS患者治疗后EDSS为(6.25±2.73)分与治疗前的(6.92±1.93)分之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(3)RRMS患者治疗前、后GR蛋白含量与同时期EDSS评分之间呈明显线性负相关(P<0.05)。结论GR蛋白含量的降低可能与MS的发生和发展有关,MP冲击治疗中症状一过性加重与GR蛋白含量下降相关,RRMS患者GR蛋白含量与MP的疗效相关。     

伴显著进行性脑萎缩的继发进展型多发性硬化临床及影像特征分析

目的 总结伴显著脑萎缩的继发进展型多发性硬化(SPMS)患者的临床及影像特征,并结合文献初步探讨其可能原因。方法 回顾性总结两例诊断明确并伴显著脑萎缩的SPMS患者的临床资料并进行文献复习。结果 两例多发性硬化(MS)患者在疾病前期复发频繁,分别于患病8年和4年后进展为SPMS,主要表现为进行性加重的运动及认知障碍,患者2伴有癫痫发作。两例患者早期头颅MRI均示侧脑室旁、额顶叶、小脑等处多个斑片状病灶,病灶数目较多,部分位于皮质下,且均在疾病早期即可见脑室扩大、脑沟加深等病理性脑萎缩表现,并随病程进展逐步加重,与临床症候进展趋势一致,后期全脑萎缩尤为显著,其中患者2皮层萎缩更为突出,患者1伴显著脊髓萎缩。结论 MS早期即可出现进行性脑萎缩,进入SPMS后脑萎缩进展更为显著,且其进行性加重趋势与运动障碍、认知障碍进展一致,部分患者进展较快,可伴癫痫发作,临床过程类似神经系统变性病等,应注意甄别。     

Hypointense lesions on T1-weighted spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging: relation to clinical characteristics in subgroups of patients with multiple sclerosis

CONTEXT: Hypointense lesions on T1-weighted spin-echo magnetic resonance images (T1 lesions) represent destructive multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, consisting of axonal loss and matrix destruction. These lesions are being used as a secondary outcome measure in phase III clinical trials. Clinical determinants of T1 lesions may differ between subgroups of patients with MS and subsequently may have implications for the selection of patients for clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: To determine if clinical characteristics of patients with MS are related to T1 lesion volume. DESIGN: A survey of 138 patients with MS (52 with relapsing-remitting MS, 44 with secondary progressive MS, and 42 with primary progressive MS). SETTING: The Magnetic Resonance Center for Multiple Sclerosis Research, University Hospital "Vrije Universiteit," Amsterdam, the Netherlands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of MS, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, sex, age at first symptoms, and T1 lesion volume. RESULTS: Patients with secondary progressive MS have the highest T1 lesion volume. Patients with relapsing-remitting MS have a lower T1/T2 ratio than patients with secondary progressive MS and patients with primary progressive MS. In patients with relapsing-remitting MS and secondary progressive MS, T1 lesion volume relates to disease duration and EDSS score, while in patients with primary progressive MS sex is important. A trend toward higher T1 lesion volume was shown for male patients with primary progressive MS when compared with female patients with primary progressive MS (1.0 cm(3) vs 0.3 cm(3), P=.03); a trend toward higher T1 lesion volume was found with age at onset in patients with relapsing-remitting MS and in patients with primary progressive MS. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MS different clinical characteristics associate with T1 lesion volume, suggesting a more destructive type of lesions in certain subgroups. A possible sex difference in (destructive) lesion development on magnetic resonance imaging should be evaluated in more detail, preferably in a cohort.     

Brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: relationship with 'black holes', disease duration and clinical disability

Recent MRI studies in multiple sclerosis have highlighted the potential role of brain atrophy evaluation as a putative marker of disease progression. In the present study, we evaluated the supratentorial and infratentorial brain volume in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS) and in healthy subjects. Moreover, we determined whether brain volumes of MS patients are associated with different aspects of brain MRI abnormalities and clinical findings. Two-dimensional acquired MRI was performed on 52 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 30 healthy subjects. The volume of supratentorial and infratentorial structures was measured in selected representative slices. Gd-enhancement, T2 hyperintense, T1 hypointense (i.e. 'black holes') total lesion load, as well as the area of corpus callosum was calculated in the MS group and related to brain volume measures. Correlations between MRI parameters and clinical features were also considered. MS patients had significantly lower supratentorial, infratentorial brain volume and corpus callosum area than healthy subjects (P<0.01). Supratentorial brain volume was significantly related to corpus callosum area (r=0.58; P<0.01) and T1 hypointense lesion load (r=0.48; P<0.01), but not with T2 hyperintense lesion load. Infratentorial/supratentorial ratio was significantly associated with disease duration and EDSS score (r=-0.34; P=0.02 and r=-0.49; P<0.01, respectively). This study documents that brain atrophy is an early MRI finding in RR MS and it is closely related to 'black holes' burden. The use of relative values (infratentorial/supratentorial ratio) may increase the conspicuity of correlation between clinical and MRI findings.     

Magnetic resonance imaging predictors of disability in primary progressive multiple sclerosis: a 5-year study

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an accepted tool for monitoring therapeutic trials in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS); it is however unclear whether such MRI markers are equally applicable to primary progressive MS (PPMS). Forty-two patients with PPMS were reviewed five years after commencing a two-year MRI and clinical study. Clinical measures recorded at baseline and five years included both the Expanded Disability Status Scale and the MS functional composite. MRI data collected at baseline and two years included T1 and T2 lesion loads, the number of new brain and cord lesions, and measures of both brain and cord atrophy. The study demonstrated that both the number of new T2 lesions and rate of increase in ventricular volume over two years were modestly predictive of subsequent disease progression and therefore may be useful tools in the testing of new therapeutic agents in PPMS.     

A semiautomated measure of whole-brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis

Brain atrophy is a proposed MRI marker of irreversible pathologic damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). The brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) is the ratio of brain parenchymal volume to the total volume within the surface contour. We developed a semiautomated measure of BPF using commercially available edge-finding and thresholding software (30-min analysis time per patient). We measured BPF in 78 patients with MS and 17 healthy controls. BPF was lower in a cohort of patients with MS (n=50) (0.843+/-0.042, range 0.743-0.906) age-matched to controls (0.877+/-0.020, range 0.835-0.901) (p<0.001). BPF correlated inversely with third ventricular width (r=-0.785, p<0.001), and total T1 hypointense lesion volume (r=-0.347, p=0.011), but not with total T2 hyperintense lesion volume (r=-0.213, p=0.13). BPF correlated negatively with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score (r=-0.391, p=0.0006) and disease duration (r=-0.281, p=0.01). Stepwise regression compared the relative abilities of MRI variables to predict clinical data. By regression of age, BPF, third ventricular width, T2 lesions, and T1 lesions, BPF was the best predictor of disability score (R(2)=0.204, p<0.001). Third ventricular width was the best predictor of disease duration (R(2)=0.316, p<0.001). None of the MRI variables differed between relapsing-remitting (RR) (n=60) and secondary progressive (SP) (n=18) disease course (p>0.05). The intrarater, interrater, and scan-rescan BPF variability (COV) was 0.31%, 0.34%, and 0.41% and the accuracy against a phantom was 99.1%. We conclude that whole-brain atrophy in MS can be reliably and readily quantified by a semiautomated approach. Longitudinal studies are warranted to determine if this method provides a sensitive biologic marker of the MS disease process.     

Longitudinal brain volume measurement in multiple sclerosis: rate of brain atrophy is independent of the disease subtype

BACKGROUND: In multiple sclerosis (MS), brain atrophy depicted by magnetic resonance imaging reflects overall tissue loss, including axonal loss. OBJECTIVE: To determine the course of atrophy by studying the rate of development of brain atrophy in patients who have different subtypes of MS. METHODS: Eighty-three patients with MS (42 with relapsing-remitting, 21 with secondary progressive, and 20 with primary progressive) were studied longitudinally, with an interval of 2 to 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging included T1- and T2-weighted images to obtain 2 brain volume measurements: (1) the parenchymal fraction as a marker of global brain atrophy and (2) the ventricular fraction as a marker of central atrophy. The annualized rate of global and central brain atrophy was compared between those with different subtypes of MS and related to clinical characteristics, including sex, age, disease duration, and disability. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of the parenchymal fraction (-0.7% per year; SEM, 0.11% per year) and a significant increase of ventricular fraction (3.7% per year; SEM, 0.54% per year) in the total group. Significant tissue loss was also seen in all 3 subtypes of MS; the decrease in parenchymal fraction was not different between subtypes, whereas the increase in ventricular fraction tended to be larger in patients with secondary progressive MS compared with patients with primary progressive MS. Marginal associations were found between clinical determinants and the rate of brain atrophy. Annualized increase in the ventricular fraction was correlated with age (r = -0.26) and duration of symptoms (r = -0.22): younger patients (mainly patients with relapsing-remitting MS who have a limited disability) displayed a larger increase in ventricular fraction compared with older patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of development of brain atrophy is largely independent of the course of the disease and other clinical characteristics. The relentless loss of tissue occurring in MS is not restricted to later (progressive) phases of the disease, thereby stressing the need for early neuroprotective treatment in MS.     

T1 lesion load and cerebral atrophy as a marker for clinical progression in patients with multiple sclerosis. A prospective 18 months follow-up study

We investigated the relationship between local tissue destruction, diffuse cerebral atrophy and clinical progression in patients with established multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-nine patients with MS (13 patients with relapsing--remitting and 16 with secondary progressive disease) were included in a prospective serial study. Cerebral volumes, T1 hypointense lesion volumes, T2 hyperintense lesion volumes at baseline and at 18 months follow-up, and the volume of monthly enhancing lesions from month 0 to month 9 were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans using highly reproducible semi-automated quantitative techniques. The main outcome measures were the MRI parameters and disability on Kurtzkes' Expanded Disability Status Scale. There was a significant correlation between the change (increase) in T1 lesion volume and progressive cerebral atrophy, whereas no correlation between the T2 lesion volume and atrophy was seen over the same follow-up period. The change in T1 lesion volume correlated more strongly than did T2 lesion volume change with the change in disability. We conclude that hypointense abnormalities detected in T1-weighted brain scans and cerebral atrophy may be directly linked. Although one should bear in mind some potential for reversibility due to inflammatory, oedematous lesions, these MR measures are a useful marker of progressive tissue damage and clinical progression in established MS.     

Cerebrospinal fluid IgM index correlates with cranial MRI lesion load in patients with multiple sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis intrathecal IgM synthesis correlates with an unfavourable disease course. Whether this reflects a pathogenic role of IgM, possibly in conjunction with complement, is a matter of debate. In a cross-sectional study we measured intrathecal synthesis of IgM and the complement component C3, and on cranial MRI lesion load and central brain atrophy in clinically active patients, 17 relapsing-remitting, 16 secondary progressive. Correlative analysis showed that in relapsing-remitting patients CSF IgM index correlated with cranial MRI T2 and T1 lesion load, and central brain atrophy; and the C3 index correlated with T2 lesion load. In secondary progressive patients CSF IgM index correlated with periventricular T2 lesion load. Our data are in favour of a pathogenic role of IgM in multiple sclerosis.     

Optimizing the association between disability and biological markers in MS

OBJECTIVE: Axonal damage is an important feature of MS pathology and the likely substrate of development of progressive disability. Brain volume measurement on MRI can be used as an overall marker of tissue damage and axonal loss. The authors studied the relation of brain volume measurements with the MS Functional Composite (MSFC) in an attempt to improve the clinico-radiologic association. METHODS: In 137 patients with MS (80 relapsing-remitting [RR], 36 secondary progressive [SP], and 21 primary progressive [PP]) and 12 healthy controls, a brain MRI scan was obtained. Patients also underwent MSFC and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) assessments. MRI analysis included determination of hypointense T1- and hyperintense T2-weighted lesion load, and two brain volume measurements: 1) the parenchymal fraction (PF): whole brain parenchyma/intracranial volume; and 2) the ventricular fraction (VF): ventricular volume/whole brain parenchyma. RESULTS: The median PF was smaller and the median VF larger in the patient group (0.81 for PF and 0.029 for VF) than in the control group (0.87 for PF, p < 0.001; and 0.013 for VF, p < 0.01). For the patient population, moderate correlations were found between brain volume measurements and MSFC (0.36 for PF and -0.40 for VF). Patients with short disease duration showed a correlation of MSFC with both brain and lesion volume measurements on MRI, whereas patients with long disease duration only showed a correlation with brain volume measurements. CONCLUSION: Brain volume measurements are correlated with disability as assessed by the MSFC. Although in the early phase of the disease the amount of focal demyelination is important, the residual brain volume seems to be more relevant in determining disability in later phases of the disease.     

T2 hypointensity in the deep gray matter of patients with multiple sclerosis: a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study.

CONTEXT: While gray matter T2 hypointensity in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with physical disability and clinical course, previous studies have relied on visual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments. OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively determine if T2 hypointensity is associated with conventional MRI and clinical findings in MS. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: University-affiliated community-based hospital. SUBJECTS: Sixty patients with MS and 50 controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: T2 intensities of the substantia nigra, red nucleus, thalamus, putamen, globus pallidus, and caudate; third ventricular width; total brain T1 (hypointense) and T2 (hyperintense) lesion volumes; Expanded Disability Status Scale (physical disability) score; and disease course. RESULTS: Deep gray matter T2 hypointensity was present in patients with MS in all structures (P<.005) except for the substantia nigra. T2 hypointensity was associated with third ventricle enlargement and higher T2 but not T1 plaque load. The regression model predicting third ventricle width included caudate T2 hypointensity (P =.006). The model predicting T2 lesion load included globus pallidus T2 hypointensity (P =.001). Caudate T2 hypointensity was the only variable associated with disability score in regression modeling (P =.03). All T2 hypointensities differentiated the secondary progressive from the relapsing-remitting clinical courses. The final model (P<.001) predicting clinical course retained T2 hypointensity of the thalamus, caudate, and putamen but not MRI plaques or atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Gray matter T2 hypointensity in MS is associated with brain atrophy and is a stronger predictor of disability and clinical course than are conventional MRI findings. While longitudinal studies are warranted, these results suggest that pathologic iron deposition is a surrogate marker of the destructive disease process.     

Brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: impact of lesions and of damage of whole brain tissue

INTRODUCTION: In multiple sclerosis (MS), brain atrophy measurement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflects overall tissue loss, especially demyelination and axonal loss. We studied which factor contributes most to the development of brain atrophy extent and severity of lesions or damage of whole brain issue (WBT). METHODS: Eighty-six patients with MS [32 primary progressive (PP), 32 secondary progressive (SP)] and 22 relapsing-remitting (RR) were studied MRI included T1- and T2-weighted imaging to obtain hypointense T1 lesion volume (T1LV) and two brain volume measurements: 1) the parenchymal fraction (PF; whole brain parenchymal volume/intracranial volume) as a marker of overall brain volume, and 2) the ventricular fraction (VF; ventricular volume/intracranial volume) as a marker of central atrophy. From magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) histograms, the relative peak height (rHp) was derived as an index of damage of WBT (a lower peak height reflects damage of WBT). RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that damage of WBT explains most of the variance of PF (standardized coeffcient beta = 0.59, p < 0.001 for WBT and beta = -0.19, p < 0.05 for T1LV). These findings are independent of disease phase; even in RR patients, damage of WBT plays a dominant role in explaining the variance in overall brain volume. By contrast the variance in VF is explained by both T1LV and damage of WBT (standardized coefficient beta = 0.43, p < 0.001 for T1LV and beta =-0.38, p < 0.001 for WBT). CONCLUSION: This study shows that overall brain volume (PF) is best explained by damage of WBT, supporting the significance of nonfocal pathology in MS in producing tissue loss. Central atrophy (VP) is determined by both lesion volume and damage of WBT. Our results underline the importance of nonfocal pathology even in the early (RR) phase of the disease.