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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006;77:1036-1039 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2006.094748
  • Paper

Cord atrophy separates early primary progressive and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

  1. M Bieniek1,
  2. D R Altmann2,
  3. G R Davies1,
  4. G T Ingle1,
  5. W Rashid1,
  6. J Sastre-Garriga1,
  7. A J Thompson1,
  8. D H Miller1
  1. 1NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
  2. 2Medical Statistics Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University College London
  1. Correspondence to:
 D H Miller
 NMR Research Unit and Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK;d.miller{at}ion.ucl.ac.uk
  • Received 2 April 2006
  • Accepted 13 June 2006
  • Revised 23 May 2006
  • Published Online First 22 June 2006

Abstract

Background and objective: The onset of multiple sclerosis is relapsing remitting or primary progressive. An improved understanding of the causes of early progressive disability in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) could provide mechanistic targets for therapeutic intervention.

Methods: Five magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters that could potentially cause progressive disability were investigated in 43 patients with early PPMS and in 37 patients with early relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS): atrophy in brain, both grey matter and white matter; intrinsic abnormality in brain, both grey matter and white matter (measured by the magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR)); and atrophy of the upper cervical spinal cord. Both groups were also compared with controls.

Results: Patients with PPMS were older and more likely to be men. Both patient groups had atrophy of brain grey matter and white matter, and intrinsic abnormality in MTR of normal-appearing grey matter and white matter. Cord atrophy was present only in the PPMS (mean cord area: PPMS, 67.8 mm2; RRMS, 72.7 mm2; controls, 73.4 mm2; p = 0.007). This was confirmed by multivariate analysis of all five MRI parameters, age and sex.

Conclusion: Grey matter and white matter of the brain are abnormal in both early RRMS and PPMS, but cord atrophy is present only in PPMS. This is concordant with myelopathy being the usual clinical presentation of PPMS. Measurement of cord atrophy seems to be clinically relevant in PPMS treatment trials.

Footnotes

  • Published Online First 10 July 2006

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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    1. jnnp.2006.094748v1
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