Eytan Raz1, Mara Cercignani2, Emilia Sbardella1, Porzia Totaro1,3, 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.