Regional Cortical Cerebral Quantitative MRI Perfusion Correlation Neurocognition in Multiple Sclerosis

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00812474

373-2007

Details and patient eligibility

About

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common disease affecting 1/1000 Canadians. Cognition impairment is reported in 40-65% of patients and is socially and functionally disabling. Although multiple sclerosis is widely regarded as a white matter disease, cortical disease burden is increasingly emphasized. Studies confirm that gray matter (GM) disease is grossly underestimated by conventional MRI. Although the cause for MS is unknown vascular impairment is implicated in nerve cell death. Several studies have shown perfusion abnormalities in the central GM and white matter (WM) structure. Severity of perfusion reduction correlates with lesion load, atrophy, MS subtype and disease duration. Further extent of cortical atrophy correlates with neurocognitive impairment. We hypothesize that cortical perfusion is a marker of cortical disease severity and correlates with neurocognitive impairment. To show this we will measure regional cortical perfusion and regional brain and WM lesion volumes in 26 predefined brain regions using a template developed for Alzheimer's disease. Regional perfusion will be correlated with neurocognitive tests validated for MS use. Patients will be divided into impaired and non impaired and perfusion compared controlling for known confounding factors. If confirmed cortical perfusion may be utilized as a surrogate marker of cognitive outcome in therapeutic studies.

Full description

We hypothesize that cortical perfusion is a marker of cortical disease severity and correlates with neurocognitive impairment. To show this we will measure regional cortical perfusion and regional brain and WM lesion volumes in 26 predefined brain regions using a template developed for Alzheimer's disease. Regional perfusion will be correlated with neurocognitive tests validated for MS use. Patients will be divided into impaired and non impaired and perfusion compared controlling for known confounding factors. If confirmed cortical perfusion may be utilized as a surrogate marker of cognitive outcome in therapeutic studies.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• established SPMS according to the McDonald criteria

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a history of drug/alcohol abuse, a premorbid (pre MS) psychiatric history, a head injury with loss of consciousness and a concurrent physical disease requiring medical attention (eg. cardiovascular disease etc), MRI contraindication including implants, pacemaker, aneurysm clips and known renal impairment