Abstract #3243

Regional Assessment of WM and GM Damage in Patients with Early MS: A VBM and TBSS Investigation

Eytan Raz¹, Mara Cercignani², Emilia Sbardella¹, Porzia Totaro^1,3, Carlo Pozzilli¹, Marco Bozzali², Patrizia Pantano¹

¹Department of Neurological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy; ²Neuroimaging Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia - IRCCS, Rome, Italy; ³Istituto di Neuroscienze - NCL, Rome, Italy

Diffuse MRI abnormalities have been largely described in multiple sclerosis (MS) at the earliest stages, involving both white (WM) and grey matter (GM). However, the relationship between WM and GM damage is not fully understood. We recruited 34 patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of a first episode of MS. SPM5 and FSL were respectively used for VBM (GM) and TBSS (WM) analyses. We found a diffuse WM damage in early MS and CIS, which involves most of the WM tracts. No significant changes were observable when considering regional GM volumes. This suggests that WM damage is most relevant in determining the early steps of brain damage in MS.