Author(s): Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD Deepa P. Ramasamy, MD Ralph R. H. Benedict, PhD Paul Polak, MS Jesper Hagemeier, PhD Christopher Magnano, MS Michael G. Dwyer, PhD Niels Bergsland, PhD Nicola Bertolino, MS Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD Channa Kolb, MD David Hojnacki, MD David Utriainen, BS E. Mark Haacke, PhD Ferdinand Schweser, PhD
Journal: RSNA
Published: 2016
Read Full Paper: https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2016160060
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess cerebral microbleed (CMB) prevalence in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and associations with clinical outcomes.
Method
CMBs are associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders. The prevalence of CMBs has not previously been well established. In this study, 445 patients with MS (266 with relapsing-remitting MS, 138 with secondary progressive MS, and 41 with primary progressive MS), 45 patients with CIS, 51 patients with other neurological diseases, and 177 healthy control subjects (HCs) underwent 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and clinical examinations. A subset of 168 patients with MS and 50 HCs underwent neuropsychological testing.
Number of CMBs was assessed on susceptibility-weighted minimum intensity projections by using the Microbleed Anatomic Rating Scale; volume was calculated by using quantitative susceptibility maps. Differences between groups were analyzed with the χ2 test, Fisher exact test, Student t test, and analysis of variance; associations of CMBs with clinical and other MR imaging outcomes were explored with correlation and regression analyses. Because CMB frequency increases with age, prevalence was investigated in participants at least 50 years of age and younger than 50 years.
Results
Significantly more patients with MS than HCs had CMBs (19.8% vs 7.4%, respectively; P = .01) in the group at least 50 years old. A trend toward greater presence of CMBs was found in patients with MS (P = .016) and patients with CIS who were younger than 50 years (P = .039) compared with HCs.
In regression analysis adjusted for age, hypertension, and normalized brain volume, increased number of CMBs was significantly associated with increased physical disability in the MS population (R2 = 0.23, P < .0001).
In correlation analysis, increased number of CMBs was significantly associated with deteriorated auditory and verbal learning and memory (P = .006) and visual information processing speed trends (P = .049) in patients with MS.
Conclusions
Monitoring CMBs may be relevant in patients with MS and CIS at higher risk for developing cognitive and physical disability.
