Increasing Cord Atrophy in Early Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis: a 3 Year Study

Overview

Journal J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

Publisher BMJ Publishing Group

Specialties Neurology
Neurosurgery
Psychiatry

Date 2005 Dec 20

PMID 16361592

Citations 30

Authors

W Rashid

G R Davies

D T Chard

C M Griffin

D R Altmann

R Gordon

A J Thompson

D H Miller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that upper cervical cord atrophy (UCCA) occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in those disabled and with primary or secondary progressive disease. It is less clear how early it can be detected in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS, and whether early cord atrophy relates to the concurrent or future clinical course.

Methods: Twenty seven RR MS patients (median disease duration 1.7 years, in all cases <3 years from onset) were recruited along with 20 controls. They were followed for up to 3 years with a yearly assessment of UCCA and clinical function measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and MS Functional Composite Score (MSFC). Clinical and MRI correlations were investigated. Statistical models adjusted for covariates including total intracranial volume.

Results: Longitudinal analysis showed a significant decrease in UCCA in patients both within the patient cohort (p < 0.001) and in comparison with controls (p = 0.001). There was a significant increase in EDSS (p = 0.008) but no significant change in MSFC. The rate of UCCA loss did not correlate with clinical change or with change in brain volume.

Conclusions: In summary, serial UCCA measurement detects the development of spinal cord atrophy in clinically early RR MS.

Citing Articles

MRI assessment of cervical spinal cord cross-sectional area in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Al-Tameemi H, Hassoun H, Mohammed I, Allebban Z J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2023; 14(4):660-666.

PMID: 38059247 PMC: 10696324. DOI: 10.25259/JNRP_87_2023.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients : Review.

Siger M Clin Neuroradiol. 2022; 32(3):625-641.

PMID: 35258820 PMC: 9424179. DOI: 10.1007/s00062-022-01144-3.

Spinal Cord Atrophy Predicts Progressive Disease in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.

Bischof A, Papinutto N, Keshavan A, Rajesh A, Kirkish G, Zhang X Ann Neurol. 2021; 91(2):268-281.

PMID: 34878197 PMC: 8916838. DOI: 10.1002/ana.26281.

Heritability of cervical spinal cord structure.

Dahlberg L, Viessmann O, Linnman C Neurol Genet. 2020; 6(2):e401.

PMID: 32185240 PMC: 7061306. DOI: 10.1212/NXG.0000000000000401.

Validation of mean upper cervical cord area (MUCCA) measurement techniques in multiple sclerosis (MS): High reproducibility and robustness to lesions, but large software and scanner effects.

Weeda M, Middelkoop S, Steenwijk M, Daams M, Amiri H, Brouwer I Neuroimage Clin. 2019; 24:101962.

PMID: 31416017 PMC: 6704046. DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101962.

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