Abstract #3607

Dynamic Patterns of Gray and White Matter Atrophy in Patients with Clinically Isolated Syndrome Suggestive of Multiple Sclerosis After 1 Year from the First Clinical Episode

Elisabetta Pagani¹, Maria A. Rocca¹, Paolo Preziosa¹, Sarlota Mesaros², Dusan Damjanovic³, Tatjana Stosic-Opincal³, Jelena Drulovic², Massimo Filippi¹

¹Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, MI, Italy; ²Clinic of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, BG, Yugoslavia; ³Clinic of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, BG, Yugoslavia

Using Tensor Based Morphometry, we investigated the patterns of regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) atrophy and their changes over one year in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS). We found that WM loss followed a linear evolution from disease onset, while a transient increase of GM volume in a few regions was detectable early in the disease course followed by the development of GM atrophy, thus possibly reflecting structural plasticity to damage.