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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
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Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Relationship between brain MRI lesion load and short-term disease evolution in non-disabling MS: a large-scale,
Marco Rovaris1, Maria A Rocca, Frederik Barkhof
1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute and University Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|December 17, 2010
Summary
A low rate of brain lesion volume increase over time may indicate benign multiple sclerosis (MS). However, high lesion volume in benign MS patients could predict worsening disability.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) encompasses a spectrum of disease courses, including benign and non-disabling relapsing-remitting forms.
- Distinguishing between these subtypes is crucial for prognostication and management.
- Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) features are explored for their potential to identify benign MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify clinical and conventional MRI markers indicative of a benign multiple sclerosis (MS) disease course.
- To differentiate between benign MS (BMS) and non-disabling relapsing-remitting MS (NDRRMS) using MRI metrics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 182 patients with benign MS (EDSS ≤ 3.0, disease duration ≥ 15 years) and 187 patients with non-disabling relapsing-remitting MS (EDSS ≤ 3.0, disease duration 5-14 years) across seven centers.
- Brain T2 lesion volume (LV) was measured. Clinical data and MRI were collected within two weeks of each other.
- Follow-up clinical data were available for a subset of patients (146 BMS, 146 NDRRMS) after a median of 29 months.
Main Results:
- Mean brain T2 lesion volume (LV) was significantly higher in benign MS (BMS) patients compared to non-disabling relapsing-remitting MS (NDRRMS) patients (p<0.001).
- The ratio of LV to disease duration was higher in NDRRMS patients (1.1 ml/year) than in BMS patients (0.6 ml/year) (p<0.001), suggesting a slower accumulation of lesions in BMS.
- In BMS patients, a higher baseline brain LV correlated with an increased Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at follow-up (r=0.18, p=0.03).
Conclusions:
- A slow rate of brain lesion volume increase over a prolonged disease duration may characterize benign multiple sclerosis (BMS).
- In patients with established BMS, a high brain lesion volume may be associated with an increased risk of locomotor disability progression in the short term.
