Martina Absinta1,2, Maria Assunta Rocca1,2, Giulia Longoni1,2, Paola Valsasina1, Federica Agosta1, Domenico Caputo3, Massimo Filippi1,2
1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Scientific Institute Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; 2Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; 3Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute Fondazione Don Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
Cervical cord activations in relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with fatigue were compared with RRMS without fatigue and healthy controls. Subjects were scanned when performing a sensory task (tactile stimulation of right hand). Statistical activity maps were generated and the presence of activity in each cord region was assessed. RRMS without fatigue showed higher fMRI cord activity compared with controls, while RRMS with fatigue did not. RRMS with fatigue had a more widespread pattern of regional activity both than controls and RRMS without fatigue. In MS, fatigue is associated with reduction of cord recruitment and loss of its lateralization.