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01-01-2018 | Magnetic Resonance

Different patterns of longitudinal brain and spinal cord changes and their associations with disability progression in NMO and MS

Authors: Yaou Liu, Yunyun Duan, Jing Huang, Zhuoqiong Ren, Zheng Liu, Huiqing Dong, Florian Weiler, Horst K. Hahn, Fu-Dong Shi, Helmut Butzkueven, Frederik Barkhof, Kuncheng Li

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the longitudinal spinal cord and brain changes in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) and their associations with disability progression.

Patients and methods

We recruited 28 NMO, 22 MS, and 20 healthy controls (HC), who underwent both spinal cord and brain MRI at baseline. Twenty-five NMO and 20 MS completed 1-year follow-up. Baseline spinal cord and brain lesion loads, mean upper cervical cord area (MUCCA), brain, and thalamus volume and their changes during a 1-year follow-up were measured and compared between groups. All the measurements were also compared between progressive and non-progressive groups in NMO and MS.

Results

MUCCA decreased significantly during the 1-year follow-up in NMO not in MS. Percentage brain volume changes (PBVC) and thalamus volume changes in MS were significantly higher than NMO. MUCCA changes were significantly different between progressive and non-progressive groups in NMO, while baseline brain lesion volume and PBVC were associated with disability progression in MS. MUCCA changes during 1-year follow-up showed association with clinical disability in NMO.

Conclusion

Spinal cord atrophy changes were associated with disability progression in NMO, while baseline brain lesion load and whole brain atrophy changes were related to disability progression in MS.

Key Points

• Spinal cord atrophy progression was observed in NMO.

• Spinal cord atrophy changes were associated with disability progression in NMO.

• Brain lesion and atrophy were related to disability progression in MS.

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Title: Different patterns of longitudinal brain and spinal cord changes and their associations with disability progression in NMO and MS
Authors: Yaou Liu
Yunyun Duan
Jing Huang
Zhuoqiong Ren
Zheng Liu
Huiqing Dong
Florian Weiler
Horst K. Hahn
Fu-Dong Shi
Helmut Butzkueven
Frederik Barkhof
Kuncheng Li
Publication date: 01-01-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4921-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Different patterns of longitudinal brain and spinal cord changes and their associations with disability progression in NMO and MS

Abstract

Objective

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusion

Key Points

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