Multiple sclerosis: relations between MRI and CT findings, cerebrospinal fluid parameters and clinical features

Cerebral MRI and CT findings were compared with various cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters and clinical features in 75 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). There were positive correlations between CSF albumin as a parameter of blood-brain barrier function and morphological parameters, namely the number of nonperiventricular foci and periventricular involvement demonstrated by MRI and ventricular enlargement as shown by CT. Apart from positive correlations between the number of nonperiventricular foci and CSF levels of IgA and IgG, including the IgG synthetic rate, no other correlations were found between CSF parameters (leucocyte count and immunoglobulin concentrations) and morphological findings. The unremitting-progressive type of MS was distinguished from the relapsing-remitting form by a lower CSF leucocyte count and a higher degree of disability, but there was no difference between the morphological findings in the two forms. Positive correlations were found between degree of disability and both periventricular involvement in the MRI and CT evidence of ventricular enlargement. In terms of correlations with the duration of disease, cerebral MRI proved to be far superior to CSF evaluations.