Brain volume dynamics in multiple sclerosis. A case-control study

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to explore the extent and clinical relevance of brain volume dynamics in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: Sixty-three patients with RRMS with a disease duration of about 5 years (36 women, mean age 39.9 +/- 9.4 years; mean EDSS1.4 +/- 1.2, mean relapse rate 0.98 +/- 1.17) and 50 healthy control individuals (24 women, mean age 39.1 +/- 10.2 years) were recruited and imaged on a MRI scanner by using post-gadolinium high-resolution3D T1W sequences. Cross-sectional and longitudinal volumetric data were obtained by using SIENA(X) and FIRST software. Results: Patients showed significantly lower subcortical volumes compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, the educational level predicted the rate of right thalamus atrophy. The mean annualized percentage of brain volume change (aPBVC) was -0.92% (+/- 1.64%) and was presented in higher rates during the first five years after MS diagnosis. Conclusion: Brain atrophy mainly involved subcortical grey matter structures and was more conspicuous during the first years of MS diagnosis. The buffering role of education in atrophy was also corroborated by this study.