Author(s)

Silin Du, Chun Zeng, Zhiwei Zhang^*

The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Objective: To longitudinally assess dynamic changes of iron deposition and volume of the precentral gyrus and its correlation with clinical manifestations of Relapse-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis(RRMS) by using 3D enhanced T₂* weighted angiography(ESWAN). Methods: Thirty RRMS patients and thirty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited and underwent ESWAN and 3D T₁WI twice interval of one year with the same parameters. The mean phase values (MPVs) and volumes in precentral gyrus gray matter (PGM) were measured, and change of iron content and its correlation with volume, clinical manifestations were analyzed. Results: Compared with controls, the RRMS had higher iron deposition in both single-time measurements, but the volume decreased. Comparing to the first scan, we found significant difference in MPVs between the two times (P < 0.05) in the RRMS, while the volumes had no significant difference. A significant positive correlation was found between the MPVs and the volume (first time r_s = 0.764, P < 0.05; second time r_s = 0.592, P < 0.05) in RRMS. MPVs was positively correlated with volume (r_s = 0.582, P < 0.05). Duration disease was negatively correlated with the second MPVs (r_s = -0.399, P < 0.05), and expended disability status scale (EDSS) was negatively correlated with the volume change (r_s = -0.745, P < 0.05). The recurrence rate was negatively correlated with the change of MPVs (r_s = -0.367, P < 0.05). Conclusions: With the disease progression, the content of iron in PGM in RRMS patients is increasing, while the volume has no obvious change, suggesting that the iron deposition may precede or develop faster than cerebral atrophy.

Relapse-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis, Precentral Gyrus, Iron, Brain Atrophy

Du, S. , Zeng, C. and Zhang, Z. (2020) Longitudinal Study of Iron Deposition and Volume in the Precentral Gyrus in Patients with Relapse-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 8, 84-95. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2020.85008.