Abstract
The effect of comorbidities on disease severity in MS has not been extensively characterized. We determined the association of comorbidities with MR imaging disease severity outcomes in MS. Demographic and clinical history of 9 autoimmune comorbidities confirmed by retrospective chart review and quantitative MR imaging data were obtained in 815 patients with MS. The patients were categorized on the basis of the presence/absence of total and specific comorbidities. We analyzed the MR imaging findings, adjusting for key covariates and correcting for multiple comparisons. Two hundred forty-one (29.6%) study subjects presented with comorbidities. Thyroid disease had the highest frequency (n = 97, 11.9%), followed by asthma (n = 41, 5%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 40, 4.9%), psoriasis (n = 33, 4%), and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 22, 2.7%). Patients with MS with comorbidities showed decreased whole-brain and cortical volumes (P < .001), gray matter volume and magnetization transfer ratio of normal-appearing brain tissue (P < .01), and magnetization transfer ratio of gray matter (P < .05). Psoriasis, thyroid disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidities were associated with decreased whole-brain, cortical, and gray matter volumes (P < .05). Psoriasis was associated with a decreased magnetization transfer ratio of normal-appearing brain tissue (P < .05), while type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with increased mean diffusivity (P < .01). The presence of comorbidities in patients with MS is associated with brain injury on MR imaging. Psoriasis, thyroid disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidities were associated with more severe nonconventional MR imaging outcomes.
Highlights
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEThe effect of comorbidities on disease severity in MS has not been extensively characterized
Thyroid disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidities were associated with decreased whole-brain, cortical, and gray matter volumes (P Ͻ .05)
Psoriasis was associated with a decreased magnetization transfer ratio of normal-appearing brain tissue (P Ͻ .05), while type 2 diabetes mellitus was associated with increased mean diffusivity (P Ͻ .01)
Summary
In this large-cohort MS study, we aimed to investigate the impact of autoimmune comorbidities on the severity of conventional and nonconventional MR imaging outcomes in patients with MS. There was no case-control group included in the study, which limits interpretation of the comorbidity frequency data; our aim was to explore the associations of comorbidities with MR imaging disease severity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
