Elisabetta Pagani1, Maria Assunta Rocca1,2,
Gianna Riccitelli1, Vittorio Martinelli2, Marta
Radaelli2, Andrea Falini3, Giancarlo Comi2,
Massimo Filippi1,2
1Neuroimaging Research
Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience,
Scientific Institute & University Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, MI,
Italy; 2Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute &
University Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, MI, Italy; 3Department of
Neuroradiology, Scientific Institute & University Hospital San Raffaele,
Milan, Italy
We used voxel-based morphometry to assess the regional distribution of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) damage in 78 relapsing remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Compared to healthy controls, RRMS patients had GM atrophy in the deep GM nuclei and in several regions of the fronto-parietal lobes. WM atrophy mainly involved posterior regions in the brain. Significant correlation was found between cognitive performance and atrophy. In RRMS patients, GM and WM atrophy tends to have distinct patterns of regional distribution, with prominent involvement of anterior areas of the brain for the GM and posterior regions for the WM.