Abstract Details

Title A Multiple Sclerosis Pilot Study: Are There Differences in Spinal Cord Involvement Among the Ethnocultural Groups of Hawaii?

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) P9 - Poster Session 9 (11:45 AM-12:45 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 1-005

Objective To detect differences in lesion burden, clinical presentation, and disability severity among newly diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients in Hawaii as stratified by ethnocultural background.

Background In their 2013 paper, Amezcua suggests that spinal cord lesion burden on initial presentation may correlate with disability level in Hispanic MS patients, and posits that spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be helpful in predicting long-term outcomes for MS patients. Similar studies have not yet been conducted to analyze potential associations within the richly diverse population of Hawaii.

Design/Methods This is a single center retrospective study of patients ages ≥18 with an MS diagnosis (ICD-10 G35) between 2008-2023. Demographics, comorbidities, and presenting Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were collected. Initial spine and brain MRI reports and EDSS scores at imaging were recorded as available.

Results The ethnocultural breakdown of the 128 patients gathered: 85 White, 12 Hispanic, 10 Asian, 9 Black, 6 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and 6 Other. There were no significant differences in demographics or comorbid conditions. Caucasians presented at a significantly older age as compared to Hispanics (p=0.0015). NHOPI had significantly higher EDSS scores at presentation compared to Hispanics (p=0.036). No significant differences were found for either spine MRI lesion burden or location (n=62), or brain MRI lesion burden or location (n=67). Multiple lesions on spine MRI correlated significantly with higher EDSS scores than those with 1 lesion on spine MRI (p=0.0067), but this relationship did not hold when compared to those with no lesions (p=0.58).

Conclusions There was no difference in the burden or location of spinal/brain MRI lesions at time of diagnosis. Interestingly, NHOPI had higher EDSS scores at presentation when compared to Hispanics. While the data hint at positive correlation between number of spine lesions on MRI and EDSS scores, larger sample sizes are needed to confirm.

Authors/Disclosures
Sofia C. Muniz PRESENTER	Miss Muniz has nothing to disclose.
Sarah E. Bellatti	Ms. Bellatti has nothing to disclose.
James J. Romero	Mr. Romero has nothing to disclose.
Ethan K. Chang, Student	Mr. Chang has nothing to disclose.
Bradon Hong	Mr. Hong has nothing to disclose.
Ryan Nakamura	Mr. Nakamura has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center.
Anita Cheung, MPH	Miss Cheung has nothing to disclose.
D-Dré Wright	Ms. Wright has nothing to disclose.
Kyle Ishikawa (University of Hawai'i)	Kyle Ishikawa has nothing to disclose.
Enrique Carrazana	No disclosure on file
Kore K. Liow, MD, FACP (University of Hawaii, John Burns School of Medicine)	The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from UCB. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Livanova. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Novartis. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Eisai. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Engage Therapeutics. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from SK Lifescience. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Cerevel. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Xenon. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from NeuroDerm. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Avanir. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Annovis. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Acadia. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Prothena. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from SAGE. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Annovis. The institution of Dr. Liow has received research support from Cyclerion.

��ɫ��

��ɫ��