White matter tracts of MS patients with progression independent of relapse activity show DTI-alterations compared to clinically stable patients
Progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) has been described in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) even in the earliest disease stages. Patients with PIRA show increased atrophy rates in multiple brain regions compared to stable patients. Here, we investigated whether patients with PIRA exhibit loss of integrity in WM tracts compared to stable patients. We studied 62 RRMS patients, 27 PIRA and 35 stable patients using a clinical DW-MRI protocol. Our results showed that PIRA patients present smaller FA values in areas of corpus callosum and along corticosprinal tract. These differences suggest neurodegeneration in major WM tracts of PIRA patients.