biostudies-literaturePulido-Valdeolivas IThis study was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional13333https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7414206biostudies-literatureUnknown10(1)Understanding of the role of focal inflammation, a treatable feature, on neuro-axonal injury, is paramount to optimize neuroprotective strategy in MS. To quantify the impact of focal inflammatory activity on the rate of neuro-axonal injury over the MS course. We quantified the annualized rates of change in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), whole-brain, gray matter and thalamic volumes in patients with and without focal inflammatory activity in 161 patients followed over 5 years. We used mixed models including focal inflammatory activity (the presence of at least one relapse or a new/enlarging T2-FLAIR or gadolinium- enhancing lesion), and its interaction with time adjusted by age, sex, use of disease-modifying therapies and steroids,Scientific reportsRetinal and brain damage during multiple sclerosis course: inflammatory activity is a key factor in the first 5 years.PMC7414206PI15/0061, JR16/00006, FI16/00168Andorra MMartinez-Lapiscina EHSolana ENakamura KAlba-Arbalat SCamos-Carreras ATercero-Uribe ASaiz AGomez-Andres DVilloslada PBlanco YMartinez-Heras ELlufriu SPulido-Valdeolivas ISola-Valls NSepulveda MLampert EJZubizarreta ISanchez-Dalmau BfalseRetinal and brain damage during multiple sclerosis course: inflammatory activity is a key factor in the first 5 years.Understanding of the role of focal inflammation, a treatable feature, on neuro-axonal injury, is paramount to optimize neuroprotective strategy in MS. To quantify the impact of focal inflammatory activity on the rate of neuro-axonal injury over the MS course. We quantified the annualized rates of change in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), whole-brain, gray matter and thalamic volumes in patients with and without focal inflammatory activity in 161 patients followed over 5 years. We used mixed models including focal inflammatory activity (the presence of at least one relapse or a new/enlarging T2-FLAIR or gadolinium- enhancing lesion), and its interaction with time adjusted by age, sex, use of disease-modifying therapies and steroids,2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Aug2025-05-29T20:43:22.482Z2025-05-29T20:43:22.482ZS-EPMC74142063277001310.1038/s41598-020-70255-z