Corpus Callosum Atrophy--a Simple Predictor of Multiple Sclerosis Progression: a Longitudinal 9-year Study

Aim: To determine whether corpus callosum atrophy predicts future clinical deterioration in multiple sclerosis.

Methods: In 39 multiple sclerosis patients the area of corpus callosum in the sagittal plane, T2 and T1 lesion volumes, brain parenchymal fraction and brain atrophy were determined at baseline and 1 year after treatment initiation. Non-parametric and multiple regression models were built to identify the most reliable predictors of disability and of its changes over 9 years.

Results: Corpus callosum atrophy during the first year of treatment was the best predictor of disability (r = -0.56) and of its increase at 9 years (r = 0.65). Corpus callosum atrophy of at least 2% predicted increase in disability with 93% sensitivity and 73% specificity (odds ratio = 35).

Conclusion: Corpus callosum atrophy is a simple and accurate predictor of future disability accumulation and is feasible for routine clinical practice.