Network Damage Predicts Clinical Worsening in Multiple Sclerosis
Maria A. Rocca, Paola Valsasina, Alessandro Meani, Elisabetta Pagani, Claudio Cordani, Chiara Cervellin, Massimo Filippi
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In multiple sclerosis (MS), clinical impairment is likely due to both structural damage and abnormal brain function. We assessed the added value of integrating structural and functional network MRI measures to predict 6.4-year MS clinical disability deterioration. METHODS: Baseline 3D T1-weighted and resting-state functional MRI scans were obtained from 233 patients with MS and 77 healthy controls. Patients underwent a neurologic evaluation at baseline and at 6.4-year median follow-up (interquartile range = 5.06-7.51 years). At follow-up, patients were classified as clinically stable/worsened according to disability changes. In relapsing-remitting (RR) MS, secondary progressive (SP) MS conversion was evaluated. Global brain volumetry was obtained. Furthermore, independent component analysis identified the main functional connectivity (FC) and gray matter (GM) network patterns. RESULTS: = 0.02) prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of MRI network measures helped determining the relative contributions of global/local GM damage and functional reorganization to clinical deterioration in MS.