Topic Wants: PPMS'ers 10 Year Follow-up Study

[sllowe]

T2 lesion location really matters: a 10 year follow-up study in primary progressive multiple sclerosis

http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/82/1/72.full.pdf

"Prediction of long term clinical outcome in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) has  important clinical implications, in both the design of treatment trials and in providing prognostic
advice to individual patients. Whole brain T2 and T1 lesion loads, which are objective measures of
visible tissue damage, have been studied as potential predictors of long term clinical outcome in a large
cohort of PPMS patients who were followed-up for 10 years in five European MAGNIMS (MRI in MS)
centres.1 Neither T2 nor T1 lesion load at study entry predicted clinical deterioration over 10 years.1 This is
surprising, since T2 lesion volume has been shown to predict disability after 20 years in patients who
presented with clinically isolated syndrome,2 and suggests differences in the mechanisms of tissue
damage between relapsingeremitting and PPMS."

"In conclusion, this study has provided insights into the mechanisms of progression in PPMS, reporting that T2 lesion location at study entry is a major determinant of clinical progression independent of spinal cord atrophy. Furthermore, we have confirmed that the time to bilateral support is a useful approach to identify those who progress more rapidly."

[sllowe]

Welcome, Kelly. Hope it sheds some light for you and other PPMSer future.
(((hugs)))
shell