Correlation between Brain MRI and Health Related Quality of Life in Early Treated MS Patients and Clinically Isolated Syndrome (P03.051) (2012)

Objective: To compare brain MRI and health related quality of life (HRQOL) at the initiation of disease modifying therapy (DMD) in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS). Background Few studies assessed correlation between MRI and HRQOL. In a previous study, we reported negative correlations between HRQOL, lesion load (LL) and brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) in early treated CDMS patients. Design/Methods: Our prospective study included patients with either CIS fulfilling 2005 McDonald criteria or CDMS. Patients started their first DMD at the inclusion. Annual assessment included clinical data, EDSS score, French version of MSQol-54 questionnaire, and 1.5T conventional brain MRI (T1 with and without gadolinium injection, T2 spin echo, proton density and FLAIR sequences). Images were analysed using the SepINRIA software to obtain T2-LL and BPF. Results: 60 patients were included. Mean age was 32 years (16-49) and F/M sex ratio was 2.2. Mean baseline EDSS was 1 (0-5). CIS patients differed from CDMS group by a lower EDSS score (mean 0.8 vs. 1.7, p=0.003), a lower T2-LL (2.8 vs. 6.5 cc3, p=0.002). BPF was not significantly different between the two groups (91.7% vs 90.5%, p=0.2). At the beginning of DMD, HRQOL was significantly better in CIS group considering total, physical and mental components. In CDMS group, T2-LL was significantly correlated to role limitations-physical (Pearson9s r coefficient: -0.45, p=0.04) and role limitations-emotional (r=-0.44, p=0.05) scores, whereas in CIS group, it was only correlated to role limitations-emotional (r=-0.427, p=0.05), independently of EDSS. Conclusions: Results suggest that alteration of physical dimensions of HRQOL is associated with accumulation of T2 lesions during disease course. Therefore, earlier DMD initiation could prevent degradation of HRQOL during follow-up. Longitudinal study is on going to assess impact of early treatment on HRQOL and potential correlations with brain MRI parameters. Supported by: Grants from Merck Serono and Bayer Schering Pharma. Disclosure: Dr. Cohen has received personal compensation for activities with Schering-Plough Corporation, Biogen Idec, Serono, Inc., Teva Neuroscience, and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis. Dr. Brochet has received personal compensation for activities with Bayer HealthCare, Novartis, Merck Serono, and Biogen Idec. Dr. Brochet has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for LEN. Dr. Brochet has received research support from Merck Serono, Biogen Idec, and Bayer HealthCare. Dr. Clavelou has received personal compensation for activities with Schering-Plough Corporation, Biogen Idec, Serono, Inc., and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as a speaker. Dr. Le Page has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vermersch has received personal compensation for activites with Merck Serono, Bayer Schering, Teva-Aventis, Biogen Idec, Allmirall, and Novartis as a consultant and/or speaker. Dr. Tourbah has received personal compensation for activities with Schering AG, Biogen Idec, Serono, Inc. and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as a speaker. Dr. Moreau has received research support from Biogen Idec, Sanofi Aventis and Teva Pharma, Bayer Schering, Merck Serono and Novartis. Dr. Lebrun has received personal compensation for activities with Schering, Biogen Idec, Serono and Sanofi as a speaker.Dr. Lebrun has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Elsevier.