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Howlett-Prieto Q, Oommen C, Carrithers MD, Wunsch DC, Hier DB. Subtypes of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis identified by network analysis. Front Digit Health 2023; 4:1063264. [PMID: 36714613 PMCID: PMC9874946 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.1063264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We used network analysis to identify subtypes of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis subjects based on their cumulative signs and symptoms. The electronic medical records of 113 subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were reviewed, signs and symptoms were mapped to classes in a neuro-ontology, and classes were collapsed into sixteen superclasses by subsumption. After normalization and vectorization of the data, bipartite (subject-feature) and unipartite (subject-subject) network graphs were created using NetworkX and visualized in Gephi. Degree and weighted degree were calculated for each node. Graphs were partitioned into communities using the modularity score. Feature maps visualized differences in features by community. Network analysis of the unipartite graph yielded a higher modularity score (0.49) than the bipartite graph (0.25). The bipartite network was partitioned into five communities which were named fatigue, behavioral, hypertonia/weakness, abnormal gait/sphincter, and sensory, based on feature characteristics. The unipartite network was partitioned into five communities which were named fatigue, pain, cognitive, sensory, and gait/weakness/hypertonia based on features. Although we did not identify pure subtypes (e.g., pure motor, pure sensory, etc.) in this cohort of multiple sclerosis subjects, we demonstrated that network analysis could partition these subjects into different subtype communities. Larger datasets and additional partitioning algorithms are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate their significance. This study contributes to the literature investigating subtypes of multiple sclerosis by combining feature reduction by subsumption with network analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Howlett-Prieto
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Chelsea Oommen
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Michael D. Carrithers
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Donald C. Wunsch
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, United States
| | - Daniel B. Hier
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, United States,Correspondence: Daniel B. Hier
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Cacciaguerra L, Sechi E, Rocca MA, Filippi M, Pittock SJ, Flanagan EP. Neuroimaging features in inflammatory myelopathies: A review. Front Neurol 2022; 13:993645. [PMID: 36330423 PMCID: PMC9623025 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.993645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord involvement can be observed in the course of immune-mediated disorders. Although multiple sclerosis (MS) represents the leading cause of inflammatory myelopathy, an increasing number of alternative etiologies must be now considered in the diagnostic work-up of patients presenting with myelitis. These include antibody-mediated disorders and cytotoxic T cell-mediated diseases targeting central nervous system (CNS) antigens, and systemic autoimmune conditions with secondary CNS involvement. Even though clinical features are helpful to orient the diagnostic suspicion (e.g., timing and severity of myelopathy symptoms), the differential diagnosis of inflammatory myelopathies is often challenging due to overlapping features. Moreover, noninflammatory etiologies can sometimes mimic an inflammatory process. In this setting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming a fundamental tool for the characterization of spinal cord damage, revealing a pictorial scenario which is wider than the clinical manifestations. The characterization of spinal cord lesions in terms of longitudinal extension, location on axial plane, involvement of the white matter and/or gray matter, and specific patterns of contrast enhancement, often allows a proper differentiation of these diseases. For instance, besides classical features, such as the presence of longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions in patients with aquaporin-4-IgG positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4+NMOSD), novel radiological signs (e.g., H sign, trident sign) have been recently proposed and successfully applied for the differential diagnosis of inflammatory myelopathies. In this review article, we will discuss the radiological features of spinal cord involvement in autoimmune disorders such as MS, AQP4+NMOSD, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), and other recently characterized immune-mediated diseases. The identification of imaging pitfalls and mimics that can lead to misdiagnosis will also be examined. Since spinal cord damage is a major cause of irreversible clinical disability, the recognition of these radiological aspects will help clinicians achieve a correct and prompt diagnosis, treat early with disease-specific treatment and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cacciaguerra
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Elia Sechi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria A. Rocca
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sean J. Pittock
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Eoin P. Flanagan
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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Poullet Z, Pique J, Maarouf A, Boutiere C, Rico A, Demortiere S, Durozard P, Papeix C, Maillart E, Collongues N, Ayrignac X, Zephir H, Deschamps R, Ciron J, Pelletier J, Marignier R, Audoin B. Pure Relapsing Short Myelitis. NEUROLOGY - NEUROIMMUNOLOGY NEUROINFLAMMATION 2022; 9:9/4/e1167. [PMID: 35473885 PMCID: PMC9128038 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000001167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background and ObjectivesPure relapsing short myelitis with clinical and paraclinical features suggesting multiple sclerosis (MS) has been described recently. Here, we evaluated the existence of this potential new form of MS by retrospectively searching for similar cases in the databases of the French tertiary MS centers.MethodsPatients were included based on the present criteria: at least 2 short (<3 vertebral segments) myelitis episodes; minimum follow-up of 3 years; no MS-like brain lesion during all the follow-up; tested negative for both anti–myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and anti–aquaporin 4 antibodies in serum; presence of oligoclonal bands in CSF; and comprehensive workup to exclude alternative diagnoses.ResultsEighteen patients fulfilled all criteria. The sex ratio (females/males) was 5/1; the median (range) age at first relapse was 35.5 (25–54) years, the disease duration was 80.5 (50–308) months, and the annualized relapse rate was 0.36 (0.1–0.5). The median (range) number of relapses per patient was 2 (2–5), and the median (range) Expanded Disability Status Scale score at last follow-up was 1 (0–7.5). In CSF, the median (range) protein level was 0.34 g/L (0.18–0.77), and the median (range) number of mononuclear cells was 3 (0–28). Spinal cord MRI demonstrated a median (range) number of 2 (1–5) lesions per examination and 3 [1–7] on the last examination. Fifty-five percent of lesions involved the cervical levels. Secondary progressive evolution occurred in 3 of 18 (17%) patients.DiscussionPure spinal MS could be a rare entity in the MS disease spectrum. However, the existence of a distinct entity in the inflammatory CNS disorders cannot be excluded.
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Ostini C, Bovis F, Disanto G, Ripellino P, Pravatà E, Sacco R, Padlina G, Sormani MP, Gobbi C, Zecca C. Recurrence and Prognostic Value of Asymptomatic Spinal Cord Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10030463. [PMID: 33530366 PMCID: PMC7865947 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10030463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently not recommended for the routine monitoring of clinically stable multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We aimed to investigate the occurrence of asymptomatic spinal lesions (a-SL) in clinically stable MS patients, and their association with clinical and radiological outcomes, including the recurrence of spinal lesions. The hospital MS registry was searched for clinically stable MS patients (no relapses, no disability progression) with spinal MRIs performed at T1 (baseline) and T2 (9-36 months after T1). Information on relapses, disability and new brain/spinal MRI lesions at T3 (≥6 months after T2) was collected and analyzed. Out of 300 MS patients, 45 showed a-SL between T1 and T2. The presence of a-SL was not associated with the subsequent occurrence of relapses or disability progression at T3, but did correlate with the risk of new brain (rate ratio (RR) = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.16-2.25, p = 0.003) and recurrent spinal lesions (RR = 7.28, 95% CI = 4.02-13.22, p < 0.0001). Accounting for asymptomatic brain lesions (a-BL), the presence of either a-BL or a-SL was associated with subsequent risk for new brain (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.25-2.60, p = 0.001) or spinal (RR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.27-5.45, p = 0.009) lesions. Asymptomatic spinal demyelinating lesions occurred in 15% of clinically stable MS patients within a median period of 14 months and conferred an increased risk of future radiological activity at the brain and spinal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ostini
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Francesca Bovis
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (F.B.); (M.P.S.)
| | - Giulio Disanto
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Paolo Ripellino
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Emanuele Pravatà
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland;
| | - Rosaria Sacco
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Giovanna Padlina
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Maria Pia Sormani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (F.B.); (M.P.S.)
- IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Claudio Gobbi
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903 Lugano, Switzerland; (C.O.); (G.D.); (P.R.); (R.S.); (G.P.); (C.G.)
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-091-811-6921; Fax: +41-091-811-6525
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Moccia M, Ruggieri S, Ianniello A, Toosy A, Pozzilli C, Ciccarelli O. Advances in spinal cord imaging in multiple sclerosis. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2019; 12:1756286419840593. [PMID: 31040881 PMCID: PMC6477770 DOI: 10.1177/1756286419840593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The spinal cord is frequently affected in multiple sclerosis (MS), causing motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunction. A number of pathological abnormalities, including demyelination and neuroaxonal loss, occur in the MS spinal cord and are studied in vivo with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this review is to summarise and discuss recent advances in spinal cord MRI. Advances in conventional spinal cord MRI include improved identification of MS lesions, recommended spinal cord MRI protocols, enhanced recognition of MRI lesion characteristics that allow MS to be distinguished from other myelopathies, evidence for the role of spinal cord lesions in predicting prognosis and monitoring disease course, and novel post-processing methods to obtain lesion probability maps. The rate of spinal cord atrophy is greater than that of brain atrophy (-1.78% versus -0.5% per year), and reflects neuroaxonal loss in an eloquent site of the central nervous system, suggesting that it can become an important outcome measure in clinical trials, especially in progressive MS. Recent developments allow the calculation of spinal cord atrophy from brain volumetric scans and evaluation of its progression over time with registration-based techniques. Fully automated analysis methods, including segmentation of grey matter and intramedullary lesions, will facilitate the use of spinal cord atrophy in trial designs and observational studies. Advances in quantitative imaging techniques to evaluate neuroaxonal integrity, myelin content, metabolic changes, and functional connectivity, have provided new insights into the mechanisms of damage in MS. Future directions of research and the possible impact of 7T scanners on spinal cord imaging will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Moccia
- Queen Square MS Centre, NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neurosciences, Federico II University of Naples, via Sergio Pansini, 5, Edificio 17 - piano terra, Napoli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Serena Ruggieri
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Ianniello
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Ahmed Toosy
- Queen Square MS Centre, NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Carlo Pozzilli
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Olga Ciccarelli
- Queen Square MS Centre, NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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