BACKGROUND: Gray matter (GM) lesions are frequently found in multiple sclerosis (MS) and their in-vivo detection has been improved using new magnetic resonance imaging sequences, such as double inversion recovery (DIR). However, little is known about progression of GM lesions over time. OBJECTIVE: To study the longitudinal behavior of GM lesions and to explore their relation to cognitive impairment in MS. METHODS: DIR images were acquired from 13 MS patients and seven healthy controls at two time points with a median interval of 3 years. At follow-up, all subjects underwent cognitive testing. Lesions were classified as white matter, cortical or hippocampal lesions. RESULTS: In patients, median cortical lesion number had increased from 18 to 26 at follow-up (P = 0.01), median white matter (WM) lesion number had increased from 56 to 65 (P = 0.02), and no significant increase over time was found for hippocampal lesions. Cortical lesion number at follow-up was significantly higher in secondary progressive (SP) than in relapsing-remitting patients. Significant relations were found between cortical and WM lesion number at follow-up on the one hand and visuospatial memory and processing speed on the other hand. Hippocampal lesion number was related to visuospatial memory. CONCLUSION: Cortical lesions increase significantly over a 3-year time period, are most frequent in SP patients, and are associated with cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND: Gray matter (GM) lesions are frequently found in multiple sclerosis (MS) and their in-vivo detection has been improved using new magnetic resonance imaging sequences, such as double inversion recovery (DIR). However, little is known about progression of GM lesions over time. OBJECTIVE: To study the longitudinal behavior of GM lesions and to explore their relation to cognitive impairment in MS. METHODS: DIR images were acquired from 13 MS patients and seven healthy controls at two time points with a median interval of 3 years. At follow-up, all subjects underwent cognitive testing. Lesions were classified as white matter, cortical or hippocampal lesions. RESULTS: In patients, median cortical lesion number had increased from 18 to 26 at follow-up (P = 0.01), median white matter (WM) lesion number had increased from 56 to 65 (P = 0.02), and no significant increase over time was found for hippocampal lesions. Cortical lesion number at follow-up was significantly higher in secondary progressive (SP) than in relapsing-remitting patients. Significant relations were found between cortical and WM lesion number at follow-up on the one hand and visuospatial memory and processing speed on the other hand. Hippocampal lesion number was related to visuospatial memory. CONCLUSION:Cortical lesions increase significantly over a 3-year time period, are most frequent in SPpatients, and are associated with cognitive impairment.
Authors: Mike P Wattjes; Àlex Rovira; David Miller; Tarek A Yousry; Maria P Sormani; Maria P de Stefano; Mar Tintoré; Cristina Auger; Carmen Tur; Massimo Filippi; Maria A Rocca; Franz Fazekas; Ludwig Kappos; Chris Polman Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2015-09-15 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: R I Aviv; P L Francis; R Tenenbein; P O'Connor; L Zhang; A Eilaghi; L Lee; T J Carroll; J Mouannes-Srour; A Feinstein Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2012-04-26 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Nikos Gorgoraptis; Claudia A M Wheeler-Kingshott; Thomas M Jenkins; Daniel R Altmann; David H Miller; Alan J Thompson; Olga Ciccarelli Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2010-03-09 Impact factor: 6.312