Predictive Value of the Third Ventricle Width for Neurological Status in Multiple Sclerosis

The third ventricle width (3VW) is an easily calculated measure of brain atrophy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of 3VW to cognitive impairment with adjustment for demographic and clinical confounders, including depression, anxiety, and fatigue, as well as to disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Symbol Digit Modalities Test, California Verbal Learning Test, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) were analysed in 93 patients with MS. Neuropsychological performance was compared to that of 150 healthy controls. Axial images from 3D FLAIR were used to measure 3VW. In total, 25% of MS patients were impaired in at least two neuropsychological tests. Cognitive impairment and EDSS were associated with 3VW. Age and 3VW were the strongest predictors of cognitive impairment. The multiple regression model including age, 3VW, education, EDSS, and MFIS explained 63% of the variance of neuropsychological tests results, whereas 3VW, age and duration of the disease were significant predictors of EDSS. This study confirms the predictive value of 3VW for neurological status of patients with MS, especially for cognitive impairment after adjustment for demographic and clinical confounders.