Table 1.
Demographics and permeability of the blood–brain barrier.
| RRMS patients (n = 27) | Healthy controls (n = 24) | p-Value for differencea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 37.9 (10) | 37.1 (12) | |
| Gender (number of women) | 19 | 16 | |
| EDSS score | 2.8 (1.5) | n/a | |
| Disease duration (years) | 6.1 (4.9) | n/a | |
| Treatment | |||
| None | 9(b) | 24 | |
| β-Interferon | 15 | n/a | |
| Glatiramer acetate | 3 | n/a | |
| Periventricular NAWM | |||
| Ktrans (mL/100 g/min) | 0.09 (0.04) | 0.04 (0.02) | 0.9 × 10− 5 |
| No. of voxels | 178 (98) | 163 (68) | 0.52 |
| Thalamic gray matter | |||
| Ktrans (mL/100 g/min) | 0.08 (0.03) | 0.06 (0.03) | 0.003 |
| No. of voxels | 91 (60) | 86 (57) | 0.37 |
| NAGM | |||
| Ktrans (mL/100 g/min) | 0.07 (0.04) | 0.05 (0.04) | 0.07 |
| No. of voxels | 59 (48) | 61 (31) | 0.88 |
Values are stated as mean (SD). Abbreviations: EDSS = expanded disability status scale. NAWM = normal appearing white matter (cerebral white matter for healthy controls). NAGM = normal appearing gray matter. RRMS = relapsing remitting MS.
a
For statistical comparisons of Ktrans a one-tailed T test was used. For comparisons of no. of voxels a two-tailed T test was used.
b
All patients but one were previously treated with β-interferon or glatiramer acetate.