Selective vulnerability of brainstem and cervical spinal cord regions in people with non-progressive multiple sclerosis of Black or African American and European ancestry

Darin T. Okuda, Thomas Stanley, Morgan McCreary, Alexander Smith, Andrew Wilson, Marco C. Pinho, Fang F. Yu, Thibo Billiet, Wim Van Hecke, Annemie Ribbens, Burcu Zeydan, Orhun Kantarci, Xiaohu Guo, Tatum M. Moog

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: We evaluated imaging features suggestive of neurodegeneration within the brainstem and upper cervical spinal cord (UCSC) in non-progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Standardized 3-Tesla three-dimensional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were prospectively acquired. Rates of change in volume, surface texture, curvature were quantified at the pons and medulla-UCSC. Whole and regional brain volumes and T2-weighted lesion volumes were also quantified. Independent regression models were constructed to evaluate differences between those of Black or African ancestry (B/AA) and European ancestry (EA) with non-progressive MS. Results: 209 people with MS (pwMS) having at least two MRI studies, 29% possessing 3–6 timepoints, resulted in 487 scans for analysis. Median follow-up time between MRI timepoints was 1.33 (25th–75th percentile: 0.51–1.98) years. Of 183 non-progressive pwMS, 88 and 95 self-reported being B/AA and EA, respectively. Non-progressive pwMS demonstrated greater rates of decline in pontine volume (p < 0.0001) in B/AA and in medulla-UCSC volume (p < 0.0001) for EA pwMS. Longitudinal surface texture and curvature changes suggesting reduced tissue integrity were observed at the ventral medulla-UCSC (p < 0.001), dorsal pons (p < 0.0001) and dorsal medulla (p < 0.0001) but not the ventral pons (p = 0.92) between groups. Conclusions: Selectively vulnerable regions within the brainstem-UCSC may allow for more personalized approaches to disease surveillance and management.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)691-701
Number of pages11
JournalMultiple Sclerosis Journal
Volume29
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • MRI
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • biomarkers
  • relapsing/remitting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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