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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

The relevance of cortical lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis

Authors: Olivia Geisseler, Tobias Pflugshaupt, Ladina Bezzola, Katja Reuter, David Weller, Bernhard Schuknecht, Peter Brugger, Michael Linnebank

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Recent studies suggest that cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) substantially contribute to clinical disease severity. The present study aimed at investigating clinical, neuroanatomical, and cognitive correlates of these cortical lesions with a novel approach, i.e. by comparing two samples of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, one group with and the other without cortical lesions.

Methods

High-resolution structural MRI was acquired from 42 RRMS patients and 43 controls (HC). The patient group was dichotomized based on the presence versus absence of DIR-hyperintense cortex-involving lesions, resulting in a cortical lesion group (CL, n = 32) and a non-cortical lesion group (nCL, n =10). Cognitive functioning was assessed in all participants with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, covering mnestic, executive, and attentional functions.

Results

Highest densities of cortical lesions in the CL group were observed in the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus. Relative to HC, patients with cortical lesions - but not those without - showed significant global cortical thinning and mnestic deficits. The two patient groups did not differ from each other regarding demographic and basic disease characteristics such as EDSS scores.

Conclusion

The appearance of cortical lesions in MS patients is associated with cortical thinning as well as mnestic deficits, which might be key characteristics of a 'cortically dominant' MS subtype.
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Metadata
Title
The relevance of cortical lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors
Olivia Geisseler
Tobias Pflugshaupt
Ladina Bezzola
Katja Reuter
David Weller
Bernhard Schuknecht
Peter Brugger
Michael Linnebank
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-016-0718-9

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