Abstract #0521

Spinal cord atrophy in Neuromyelitis Optica is associated to spinal cord lesions and clinical disability

Loredana Storelli¹, Laura Cacciaguerra^1,2, Paola Valsasina¹, Sarlota Mesaros³, Jelena Drulovic³, Alessandro Meani¹, Massimo Filippi^1,2, and Maria A. Rocca^1,2

¹Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, ²Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, ³Clinic of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Although spinal cord involvement is one of the major magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical finding in Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), there is a lack of quantitative studies in this field. This study quantifies and localizes spinal cord atrophy in 40 NMO patients and assesses its relationship with spinal cord lesions and clinical variables. Differently from what happens in multiple sclerosis, NMO cord atrophy seems related to the occurrence of spinal cord lesions and not to a more diffuse damage. Atrophy measures are strongly correlated with global EDSS and its pyramidal and sensitive subscores, suggesting its clinical relevance.

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