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Abstract #1384

Different MRI measures predict clinical deterioration and cognitive impairment in MS: a 5 year longitudinal study

Elisabetta Pagani 1 , Maria A. Rocca 1,2 , Paolo Preziosa 1,2 , Sarlota Mesaros 3 , Massimiliano Copetti 4 , Melissa Petrolini 1 , Jelena Drulovic 3 , and Massimo Filippi 1,2

1 Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, MI, Italy, 2 Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, 3 Neurology Clinic, Clinical Centre of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 4 Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS-Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

The identification of imaging biomarkers for monitoring disease progression in multiple sclerosis is an unmet need. In this study, we assessed the value of conventional and quantitative MRI measures of brain and spinal cord in predicting disability and cognitive worsening in multiple sclerosis patients after 5 years. A random forest analysis was performed to identify predictors of neurologic deterioration, phenotype modification and cognitive worsening at followup. The results showed that, while disability deterioration seems mainly due to disruption of white matter integrity, cognitive dysfunction is the result of a complex interplay between white matter and grey matter damage.

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