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ABSTRACT: Background
Cross-sectional studies suggest normal appearing white matter (NAWM) integrity loss may lead to cortical atrophy in late-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective
To investigate the relationship between NAWM integrity and cortical thickness from first clinical presentation longitudinally.Methods
NAWM integrity and cortical thickness were assessed with 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 102 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or early MS (33.2 (20.1-60.1) years old, 68% female) from first clinical presentation over 2.8 ± 1.6 years. Fifty healthy controls (HCs) matched for age and sex were included. NAWM integrity was evaluated using the standardized T1w/T2w ratio (sT1w/T2w). The association between sT1w/T2w and cortical thickness was assessed using linear mixed models. The effect of disease activity was investigated using the No Evidence of Disease Activity (NEDA-3) criteria.Results
At baseline, sT1w/T2w (p = 0.152) and cortical thickness (p = 0.489) did not differ from HCs. Longitudinally, decreasing sT1w/T2w was associated with cortical thickness and increasing lesion burden (marginal R2 = 0.061). The association was modulated by failing NEDA-3 (marginal R2 = 0.097).Conclusion
sT1w/T2w may be a useful MRI biomarker for early MS, detecting relevant NAWM damage over time using conventional MRI scans, although with less sensitivity compared to quantitative measures.
SUBMITTER: Cooper G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8597181 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Cooper Graham G Chien Claudia C Zimmermann Hanna H Bellmann-Strobl Judith J Ruprecht Klemens K Kuchling Joseph J Asseyer Susanna S Brandt Alexander U AU Scheel Michael M Finke Carsten C Paul Friedemann F
Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) 20210415 14
<h4>Background</h4>Cross-sectional studies suggest normal appearing white matter (NAWM) integrity loss may lead to cortical atrophy in late-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate the relationship between NAWM integrity and cortical thickness from first clinical presentation longitudinally.<h4>Methods</h4>NAWM integrity and cortical thickness were assessed with 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 102 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or earl ...[more]