scholarly journals Functional magnetic resonance imaging correlates of cognitive performance in patients with a clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of multiple sclerosis at presentation: an activation and connectivity study

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Forn ◽  
MA Rocca ◽  
P Valsasina ◽  
I Boscá ◽  
B Casanova ◽  
...  

Background/Objective: To assess whether abnormalities on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are related to cognitive function in patients at presentation with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Methods: Eighteen patients with CIS and 15 healthy controls (HCs) performed an adapted fMRI version of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). According to their PASAT performance, CIS patients were divided into two groups: 10 with a low PASAT performance (<1 SD from the mean value of HCs) were considered ‘cognitive impairment’ (CI); eight patients were defined as ‘cognitively preserved’ (CP). Between-group differences in the patterns of brain activations and effective connectivity were assessed. Results: During PASAT, compared to HCs, CIS patients showed increased activations of the bilateral inferior parietal lobe (IPL), bilateral precuneus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG), left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), left claustrum, right thalamus and right caudate nucleus. When CIS patients were analyzed, the CI group had a more significant activation of the bilateral IPL than HCs and CP patients. Compared to CP patients, they also had more significant recruitment of the right superior parietal lobe, right cerebellum, left MFG and left ACC. The analysis of effective connectivity showed stronger connections between several regions of the right hemisphere involved in working memory function in CI patients versus CP and HC. Conclusions: During performance of the PASAT, CIS patients show abnormalities in the patterns of cortical recruitment and connectivity related to the level of their cognitive impairment.

2021 ◽  
pp. 14-16
Author(s):  
W. Oliver Tobin

A 40-year-old right-handed man sought care for right hand numbness, right-sided facial numbness, and diplopia progressing to maximal severity over 10 days. At his worst he was unable to write. His symptoms remained maximal for 4 weeks. He was hospitalized and treated with 5 days of intravenous methylprednisolone. He improved to approximately 95% of normal over 4 weeks. He had residual mild right-sided facial and right leg numbness. Antibodies to JC polyoma virus and varicella-zoster virus were positive, which indicated prior exposure to these viruses. Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was low at 8.2 ng/mL. Optical coherence tomography findings were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain performed 3 months after the onset of symptoms demonstrated a T2-hyperintense lesion in the left midbrain peduncle extending into the upper pons, without gadolinium enhancement. A small area of T2 hyperintensity was seen in the right frontal deep white matter. Follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging showed almost complete resolution of the left midbrain peduncle lesion with persistence of the right frontal deep white matter lesion. Spinal fluid analysis showed 1 white blood cell/µL with 95% lymphocytes, protein 35 mg/dL, 0 unique oligoclonal bands, and normal immunoglobulin G index (0.54). A diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome-first episode of multiple sclerosis was made. After detailed discussion with the patient, he elected to commence disease-modifying therapy with fingolimod. He underwent routine monitoring with magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cervical and thoracic spine on an annual basis, without any further relapses at 5-year follow-up. Patients with typical demyelinating syndromes may not always fulfill the diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis. After careful exclusion of other mimicking conditions, most notably aquaporin-4-immunoglobulin G– and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-immunoglobulin G–associated disease, a diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome may be made.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Song ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Mei-Xia Ren ◽  
Jiao Li ◽  
Ting Su ◽  
...  

Background: Using resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), we investigated alternations in spontaneous brain activities reflected by functional connectivity density (FCD) in patients with optic neuritis (ON).Methods: We enrolled 28 patients with ON (18 males, 10 females) and 24 healthy controls (HCs; 16 males, 8 females). All subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a quiet state to determine the values of rsFC, long-range FCD (longFCD), and short-range FCD (IFCD). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to distinguish patients from HCs.Results: The ON group exhibited obviously lower longFCD values in the left inferior frontal gyrus triangle, the right precuneus and the right anterior cingulate, and paracingulate gyri/median cingulate and paracingulate gyri. The left median cingulate and paracingulate gyri and supplementary motor area (SMA) were also significantly lower. Obviously reduced IFCD values were observed in the left middle temporal gyrus/angular gyrus/SMA and right cuneus/SMA compared with HCs.Conclusion: Abnormal neural activities were found in specific brain regions in patients with ON. Specifically, they showed significant changes in rsFC, longFCD, and IFCD values. These may be useful to identify the specific mechanism of change in brain function in ON.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
E T Lim ◽  
T Berger ◽  
M Reindl ◽  
C M Dalton ◽  
K Fernando ◽  
...  

This study investigates whether the presence of serum and plasma anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and anti-myelin basic protein (MBP) in patients presenting with a clinically isolated syndrome compatible with demyelination (CIS) predicts early conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS). Forty-seven patients with CIS (46 with optic neuritis) had anti-MOG and anti-MBP antibodies analysed at baseline, and clinical and magnetic resonance imaging assessments. There was no evidence that the MS status based on either the McDonald or Poser criteria relates to the antibody status.


2021 ◽  
pp. 20-21
Author(s):  
Samantha A. Banks ◽  
Eoin P. Flanagan

A 59-year-old White man with a history of excised basal and squamous cell skin cancers was evaluated for gait difficulties. He had erectile dysfunction but no bowel or bladder dysfunction. He also reported fatigue. He began using a cane for ambulation 2 weeks before evaluation at our facility. His medications included vitamin D and sildenafil. He was a lifelong nonsmoker and had no family history of multiple sclerosis. Neurologic examination at the time of our evaluation 3 years after onset was notable for a positive Hoffman sign on the right and mild weakness of the right triceps but preserved strength elsewhere. He had a spastic gait with moderate spasticity in both lower extremities, hyperreflexic patellar and ankle jerks bilaterally, and bilateral positive Babinski sign. The remainder of the examination was essentially normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a single lesion at the cervicomedullary junction and medullary pyramids, more prominent on the right. There was also some accompanying atrophy that was also visible on cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging. Results of cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a normal white blood cell count, increased protein concentration (108 mg/dL), and positive oligoclonal bands. The progressive nature of his symptoms, spinal fluid results, and lesion appearance were all consistent with a diagnosis of progressive solitary sclerosis. At the time this patient was seen, no immunomodulatory medications for progressive solitary sclerosis were approved, so no immunomodulatory medication was tried. Ongoing symptomatic management was recommended. Progressive solitary sclerosis is a rare variant of multiple sclerosis in which patients have a single central nervous system demyelinating lesion and development of motor progression attributable to that lesion. Patients can initially have a clinical episode followed by progression or can have a progressive course without an initial relapse.


2021 ◽  
pp. 39-41
Author(s):  
Cristina Valencia-Sanchez ◽  
Jonathan L. Carter

A 60-year-old woman with a history of multiple sclerosis was evaluated for cognitive concerns. At age 30 years she had an episode of optic neuritis, followed by an episode of bilateral lower extremity numbness at age 35 years. In the following years, she had at least 6 further multiple sclerosis relapses, the last one approximately 3 years before the current presentation. She was initially treated with interferon, but she did not tolerate it. She had been taking glatiramer acetate for the past 3 years. She had noticed progressive deterioration of her gait for the past 3 years, having to use a cane on occasions. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed multiple demyelinating lesions), and magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed 1 small demyelinating lesion at C6. Vitamin B12 level and thyroid function were normal. Comprehensive neuropsychological testing showed multidomain cognitive impairment, mainly impairment of speed of information processing, spatial discrimination skills, and attention/concentration. The patient’s multiple sclerosis phenotype was consistent with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Her cognitive impairment profile, mainly affecting information processing speed and disinhibition suggestive of frontal dysfunction, was consistent with multiple sclerosis. The patient began a cognitive rehabilitation program, and learning and memory aids were recommended. Lifestyle changes were also recommended, including weight loss and physical exercise. She was given recommendations for sleep hygiene and began taking gabapentin for neuropathic pain and restless legs. Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis. Slowed cognitive processing speed and episodic memory decline are the most common cognitive deficits in MS, with additional difficulties in executive function, verbal fluency, and visuospatial analysis.


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