Structural MRI correlates of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (CI) has been associated with numerous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indices in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this study we investigated the association of a large set of 2D and 3D MRI markers with cognitive function in MS. METHODS: A sample of 61 RRMS patients (mean age 41.8 ± 10.6 years old, 44 women, mean disease duration 137.9 ± 83.9 months) along with 51 age and gender matched healthy controls was used in this cross-sectional study. Neuropsychological and other tests, along with a large set of 2D/3D MRI evaluations were made. RESULTS: 44.3% of patients had CI. CI patients had more disability, physical fatigue than non-CI patients and more psychological distress than non-CI patients and HCs. Also, CI patients had significantly larger third ventricle width and volume, smaller coprus callosum index and larger lesion volume than non-CI patients. These MRI markers also significantly predicted cognitive scores after adjusting for age and education, explaining about 30.6% of the variance of the total cognitive score. CONCLUSIONS: Selected linear and volumetric MRI indices predict cognitive function in MS. Future studies should expand these results by exploring longitudinal changes and producing normative data.

Structural MRI Correlates of Cognitive Event-Related Potentials in Multiple Sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis has been associated with cognitive event-related potentials and MRI abnormalities. This study aims to explore for the first time the association between P300 and MRI in multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Fifty-eight relapsing-remitting patients (41.5 ± 10.5 years old, 41 women, disease duration 139.7 ± 84.9 months) and 51 healthy controls were used. Visual P300 responses and a set of 2- or 3-dimensional MRI indices were obtained. Neuropsychological testing and psychological evaluations were also performed. RESULTS: Multiple sclerosis patients had significantly lower P300 amplitude and more prolonged P300 latencies and reaction times than healthy controls. In total, 67.2% of patients were identified with abnormal P300 response. These patients had greater disability and physical fatigue and had lower visuospatial memory scores than those with normal P300 response. Abnormally low P300 amplitude was associated with lower peripheral gray matter volume and was correlated only with normalized frontal horn width and normalized brain volume, after adjusting for age and education. The moderating role of brain reserve was also documented. CONCLUSIONS: P300 event-related potential was related to both linear and volumetric MRI markers. Future studies should expand these results in other disease types and longitudinally. Event-related potentials could serve as an ancillary tool for cognitive assessment in multiple sclerosis.

Assessment of bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma by the reduced Total Neuropathy Score.

We evaluated bortezomib induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) characteristics in an attempt to better clarify the type, grade, duration and reversibility of neuropathy as well as investigate possible peripheral neuropathy (PN) risk factors and detect the best way to manage it. We calculated the grading of neuropathy using the Total Neuropathy Score reduced version (TNSr) in a series of 51 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib. Seventy percent developed clinical PN. BIPN, although manageable, is frequently underestimated in patients treated with bortezomib intravenously. Continuous follow-up and management of PN are needed to avoid quality of life impairment.