Abstract Details

Title Characterizing the Contribution of White Matter on Ambulation in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) P13 - Poster Session 13 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 3-014

Objective

In this study we investigated ambulation and its association with white matter tracts in eighty Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients.

Background Ambulation is commonly affected in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and is a major determinant of disability. Timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) is an objective measure of maximum walking speed in a short distance. To date, consistent neuroimaging correlates of ambulation in MS are not well explored.

Design/Methods Eighty participants with RRMS were recruited and underwent a 3 Tesla whole brain MRI scan, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and T25FW. We performed region-based tractography and we correlated Mean Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Mean Diffusivity (MD) to the patients’ T25FW, using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (r).

Results Our participants’ mean age was 42±10.5 years, median EDSS was 1.4 (1-4), and disease duration was 8.4±8 years. The strongest correlations between FA and T25FW were observed on the left arcuate fasciculus (r=-0.5, p= 0.001), right and left acoustic radiation (r=- 0.41, p=0.001; r=-0.38, p=0.001 respectively), right and left corticothalamic pathway (r=- 0.41, p=0.001; r=-0.37, p=0.001 respectively), right optic radiation (r=-0.41, p=0.001) and medial lemniscus (r=-0.35, p=0.001). The strongest correlations between MD and T25FW were found on the right and left arcuate fasciculus (r=0.40, p= 0.001 and r=0.45, p= 0.001 respectively), right and left corticothalamic pathway (r=0.37, p=0.001; r=0.35, p=0.001 respectively), right dorsal longitudinal fasciculus (r=0.36, p=0.001; r=0.35), and superior cerebellar peduncle (r=0.40, p=0.001).

Conclusions Our findings enrich our understanding of ambulation in MS and confirm that ambulation is a complex process. Longitudinal studies are needed to validate our findings and further determine the role of different white matter tracts in its pathobiology.

Authors/Disclosures
Cristina Jageka, MD PRESENTER	Miss Jageka has nothing to disclose.
Fen Bao	Fen Bao has nothing to disclose.
Mahmoud Elkhooly, MD	Dr. Elkhooly has nothing to disclose.
Muhammad F. Raghib, MD (Wayne State University)	Dr. Raghib has nothing to disclose.
Emily Pelc (Wayne State University)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Carla E. Santiago-Martinez (Wayne State University)	Ms. Santiago-Martinez has nothing to disclose.
Jacob C. Rube, MD (University Health Center)	Dr. Rube has nothing to disclose.
Evanthia Bernitsas, MD, FAAN (Wayne State School of Medicine)	Dr. Bernitsas has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Amgen. Dr. Bernitsas has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Vanda. The institution of Dr. Bernitsas has received research support from Roche/Genentech.

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