Table 1.
Main demographic, clinical and conventional MRI characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (divided according to disease clinical phenotypes) and healthy controls
| HC (n = 28) | RRMS (n = 28) | SPMS (n = 34) | BMS (n = 26) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women/men | 18/10 | 20/8 | 24/10 | 18/8 | n.s. |
| Mean age (range) (yr) | 44.8 (25–69) | 39.7 (20–63) | 45.8 (24–67) | 44.0 (33–62) | n.s.* |
| Median EDSS (range) | – | 3.5 (1.0–4.5) | 6.0 (3.5–8.0) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | <0.001*** |
| Mean disease duration (range) [years] | – | 9.9 (0.1–22.7) | 13.9 (2.5–34.3) | 22.0 (15.1–33.3) | <0.001* |
| Mean education (range) (yr) | 12 (8–17) | 13 (8–17) | 12 (5–17) | 11 (8–17) | n.s.* |
| Word learning test mean score (SD) | – | 12.3 (2.8) | 11.4 (3.9) | 13.4 (3.4) | n.s.* |
| Short Story test mean score (SD) | – | 10.9 (4.1) | 10.9 (4.1) | 11.9 (3.8) | n.s.* |
| Mean brain T2 LV (range) (ml) | – | 11.6 (10.8) | 17.7 (14.6) | 12.5 (10) | 0.001* |
| Mean R hippocampal T2 LV (SD) (ml) | – | 0.004 (0.01) | 0.01 (0.05) | 0.005 (0.06) | n.s.*** |
| Mean L hippocampal T2 LV (SD) (ml) | – | 0.002 (0.05) | 0.009 (0.02) | 0.001 (0.01) | 0.03*** |
| Mean NGMV (SD) (ml) | 761 (75) | 665 (85) | 629 (104) | 640 (91) | <0.001** |
| Mean NWMV (SD) (ml) | 856 (71) | 864 (75) | 836 (104) | 887 (102) | n.s.** |
| Mean R NHV (SD) (ml) | 3.9 (0.5) | 3.5 (0.6) | 3.3 (0.5) | 3.3 (0.5) | <0.001** |
| Mean L NHV (SD) (ml) | 3.8 (0.5) | 3.5 (0.4) | 3.3 (0.6) | 3.2 (0.4) | 0.001** |
P values refer to: *ANOVA, Bonferroni corrected; **General Linear Model, age adjusted; ***Kruskal‐Wallis test.
HC = healthy controls; MS = multiple sclerosis; SD = standard deviation; n = number of subjects; RR = relapsing‐remitting; SP = secondary progressive; BMS = benign MS; EDSS = Expanded Disability Status Scale score; NBV = normalized brain volume; NGMV = normalized gray matter volume; NWMV = normalized white matter volume; LV = lesion volume; R = right; L = left; NHV = normalized hippocampal volume; n.s. = not significant.