Morozumi T, Preziosa P, Meani A, Pessina G, Pagani E, Azzimonti M, Filippi M, Rocca MA. Brain and cervical spinal cord MRI correlates of sensorimotor impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Mult Scler 2024;
30:1004-1015. [PMID:
38912804 DOI:
10.1177/13524585241260145]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cervical spinal cord (cSC) lesions and atrophy contribute to disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), but associations with specific sensorimotor dysfunction require further exploration.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the associations of brain and cSC magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures with sensorimotor impairment in MS.
METHODS
One hundred fifty-one MS patients and 69 healthy controls underwent 3T MRI and clinical assessments including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 9-hole peg test (9-HPT), finger tapping test (FTT), timed 25-foot walk test (T25FWT), and vibration detection threshold (VDT). Random forest ranked brain (T2-hyperintense lesion volume (T2-LV) and normalized deep gray matter (GM), cortical and white matter (WM) volumes) and cSC (T2-LV and total, GM, and WM cross-sectional areas (CSAs) at C2/C3 level) MRI measures relevance in explaining EDSS milestones (EDSS ⩾3.0, ⩾4.0, and ⩾6.0), VDT, pyramidal and sensory functional systems (P-FS and S-FS ⩾2), and motor tests impairment.
RESULTS
Various combinations of brain and cSC MRI measures explained EDSS milestones (area under the curve (AUC) =0.879-0.900), VDT (R2 = 0.194), and impaired P-FS (AUC = 0.820), S-FS (AUC = 0.795), 9-HPT (AUC = 0.793), FTT (AUC = 0.740), and T25FWT (AUC = 0.825). cSC GM CSA was the most informative feature for all outcomes, except 9-HPT.
CONCLUSION
cSC MRI measures, especially GM CSA, explain EDSS and sensorimotor dysfunction better than brain measures in MS.
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