Medicina (Jun 2023)

Functional Disability and Brain MRI Volumetry Results among Multiple Sclerosis Patients during 5-Year Follow-Up

  • Sintija Strautmane,
  • Arturs Balodis,
  • Agnete Teivane,
  • Dagnija Grabovska,
  • Edgars Naudins,
  • Daniels Urbanovics,
  • Edgars Fisermans,
  • Janis Mednieks,
  • Alina Flintere-Flinte,
  • Zanda Priede,
  • Andrejs Millers,
  • Maksims Zolovs

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59061082
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 59, no. 6
p. 1082

Abstract

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Background and Objectives: We aimed to determine the link between brain volumetry results and functional disability calculated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in relation to the provided treatment (disease-modifying therapies (DMTs)) during a 5-year follow-up period. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed enrolling 66 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS, predominantly females (62% (n = 41)). Relapsing–remitting (RR) MS was noted in 92% (n = 61) of patients, with the rest being patients with secondary progressive (SP) MS. The mean age was 43.3 years (SD 8.3 years). All patients were evaluated clinically using the EDSS and “FreeSurfer© 7.2.0” radiologically during a 5-year follow-up. Results: A significant increase in patient functional disability was noted, calculated using the EDSS during a 5-year follow-up. The baseline EDSS ranged between 1 and 6 with a median of 1.5 (IQR 1.5–2.0), and after 5 years, the EDSS was between 1 and 7, with a median EDSS of 3.0 (IQR 2.4–3.6). Compared with RRMS patients, SPMS patients demonstrated a significant increase in EDSS score during a 5-year period, with a median EDSS of 2.5 in RRMS patients (IQR 2.0–3.3) and 7.0 (IQR 5.0–7.0) among SPMS patients. Significantly lower brain volumetry results in different brain areas were found, including cortical, total grey and white matter, p p p > 0.05. The provided treatment (DMTs) did not demonstrate a significant impact on the brain MRI volumetry results during a 5-year follow-up, p > 0.05. Conclusions: Brain MRI volumetry seriously impacts the early detection of brain atrophic changes. In this study, significant relationship between brain magnetic resonance volumetry results and disability progression among MS patients with no important impact of the provided treatment was described. Brain MRI volumetry may aid in the identification of early disease progression among MS patients, as well as enrich the clinical evaluation of MS patients in clinical patient care.

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