Journal article
The Relationships among MRI-Defined Spinal Cord Involvement, Brain Involvement, and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis
Journal of neuroimaging, Vol.22(2), pp.122-128
04/2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2011.00589.x
PMCID: PMC3128174
PMID: 21447024
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the interrelationships between MRI-defined lesion and atrophy measures of spinal cord involvement and brain involvement and their relationships to disability in a small cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
BACKGROUND Although it is known that cervical spinal cord atrophy correlates with disability in MS, it is unknown whether it is the most important determinant when compared to other regions of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, it is not clear to what extent brain and cord lesions and atrophy are related.
DESIGN AND METHODS 3T MRI of the whole brain and whole spinal cord was obtained in 21 patients with MS, including 18 with relapsing-remitting, one with secondary progressive, one with primary progressive, and one with a clinically isolated syndrome. Brain global gray and white matter volumes were segmented with Statistical Parametric Mapping 8. Spinal cord contour volume was segmented in whole by a semi-automated method with bins assigned to either the cervical or thoracic regions. All CNS volumes were normalized by the intracranial volume. Brain and cord T2 hyperintense lesions were segmented using a semi-automated edge finding tool. RESULTS Among all MRI measures, only upper cervical spinal cord volume significantly correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale score (r = -. 515, P =.020). The brain cord relationships between whole or regional spinal cord volume or lesions and gray matter, white matter, or whole brain volume or whole brain lesions were generally weak and all nonsignificant.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this preliminary study of mildly disabled, treated MS patients, cervical spinal cord atrophy most strongly correlates with physical disability in MS when accounting for a wide range of other CNS measures of lesions and atrophy, including thoracic or whole spinal cord volume, and cerebral gray, white or whole brain volume. The weak relationship between spinal cord and brain lesions and atrophy may suggest that they progress rather independently in patients with MS.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Relationships among MRI-Defined Spinal Cord Involvement, Brain Involvement, and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis
- Creators
- Adam B. Cohen - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterMohit Neema - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterAshish Arora - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterElisa Dell'Oglio - Harvard UniversityRalph H. B. Benedict - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkShahamat Tauhid - Brigham and Women's HospitalDaniel Goldberg-ZimringChristian Chavarro-Nieto - Harvard UniversityAntonella Ceccarelli - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterJoshua P. Klein - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterJames M. Stankiewicz - Brigham and Women's HospitalMaria K. Houtchens - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterGuy J. Buckle - Brigham and Women's HospitalDavid C. Alsop - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterCharles R. G. Guttmann - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterRohit Bakshi - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of neuroimaging, Vol.22(2), pp.122-128
- Publisher
- Wiley
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2011.00589.x
- PMID
- 21447024
- PMCID
- PMC3128174
- ISSN
- 1051-2284
- eISSN
- 1552-6569
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- 1R01NS055083-01 / National Institutes of Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA R01NS055083 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS) RG3705A1; RG3798A2 / National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2012
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry
- Record Identifier
- 9984627235002771
Metrics
8 Record Views