BACKGROUND Regional analyses of markers of microstructural gray matter (GM) changes, including relaxation rates, have shown inconsistent correlations with physical and cognitive impairment in MS. OBJECTIVE To assess voxelwise the correlation of the R1 and R2 relaxation rates with the physical and cognitive impairment in MS. METHODS GM R1 and R2 relaxation rate maps were obtained in 241 relapsing-remitting MS patients by relaxometric segmentation of MRI studies. Correlations with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the percentage of impaired cognitive test (Brief Repeatable Battery and Stroop Test, available in 186 patients) were assessed voxelwise, including voxel GM content as nuisance covariate to remove the effect of atrophy on the correlations. RESULTS Extensive clusters of inverse correlation between EDSS and R2 were detected throughout the brain, while inverse correlations with R1 were mostly limited to perirolandic and supramarginal cortices. Cognitive impairment correlated negatively with R1, and to a lesser extent with R2, in the middle frontal, mesial temporal, midcingulate and medial parieto-occipital cortices. CONCLUSION In relapsing-remitting MS patients, GM microstructural changes correlate diffusely with physical disability, independent of atrophy, with a preferential role of the sensorimotor cortices. Neuronal damage in the limbic system and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices correlates with cognitive dysfunction.

中文翻译：

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基于体素的灰质松弛率分析显示，在复发缓解型多发性硬化症中，认知障碍和身体残疾的相关模式不同。

背景技术对微结构灰质（GM）变化的标记物（包括松弛率）进行区域分析，显示与MS的身体和认知障碍不一致。目的通过体素评估MS中R1和R2舒张率与身体和认知障碍的相关性。方法通过MRI研究的弛张分割法，对241名复发缓解型MS患者获得GM R1和R2弛豫率图。垂直评估了与扩展残疾状况量表（EDSS）和认知测试受损的百分比（简明可重复电池和Stroop测试，可用于186名患者）的相关性，包括体素GM含量作为讨厌的协变量，以消除萎缩对相关性的影响。结果在整个大脑中检测到EDSS和R2之间存在大量的逆相关性，而与R1的相关性则主要局限于腹膜周围和上睑皮质。在额中叶，额中叶，中齿和内侧枕叶皮层，认知障碍与R1呈负相关，与R2呈较小程度。结论在复发缓解型MS患者中，GM的微结构变化与身体残疾弥漫性相关，而与萎缩无关，并具有感觉运动皮层的优先作用。边缘系统和背外侧前额皮质的神经元损伤与认知功能障碍相关。在额中叶，额中叶，中齿和内侧枕叶皮层，认知障碍与R1呈负相关，与R2呈较小程度。结论在复发缓解型MS患者中，GM的微结构变化与身体残疾弥漫性相关，而与萎缩无关，并具有感觉运动皮层的优先作用。边缘系统和背外侧前额皮质的神经元损伤与认知功能障碍相关。在额中叶，额中叶，中齿和内侧枕叶皮层，认知障碍与R1呈负相关，与R2呈较小程度。结论在复发缓解型MS患者中，GM的微结构变化与身体残疾弥漫性相关，而与萎缩无关，并具有感觉运动皮层的优先作用。边缘系统和背外侧前额皮质的神经元损伤与认知功能障碍相关。