Influencing factors of enlarged perivascular spaces in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and their association with cognitive impairment
10.3760/cma.j.cn113694-20241112-00729
- VernacularTitle:复发-缓解型多发性硬化患者血管周围间隙扩大的影响因素及其与认知功能领域损害的关系研究
- Author:
Zhihong LI
1
;
Chaohui WANG
;
Jing HAN
;
Runhua BAI
;
Yudan LIU
;
Xue ZHANG
;
Qingjun WANG
;
Jianguo LIU
Author Information
1. 华南理工大学医学院，广州 510006
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting;
Cognition disorders;
Enlarged perivascular space;
Lesion volumes;
Atrophy
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neurology
2025;58(6):615-623
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of enlarged perivascular space (PVS) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and their relationship with cognitive function.Methods:Twenty-seven individuals with RRMS (RRMS group) and 27 healthy controls (healthy control group) who presented to the Department of Neurology, the Sixth Medical Center of People′s Liberation Army General Hospital from July 2022 to November 2024 underwent cognitive function assessments. PVS volume fractions, lesion volumes, and brain volumes were calculated using FreeSurfer, FSL, and other relevant softwares. Group differences in PVS volume fractions, lesion volumes, brain volumes, and cognitive function assessments were compared. Furthermore, correlations between PVS volume fractions and lesion volumes, brain volumes, and cognitive function assessments were analyzed within the RRMS group.Results:Compared with the healthy control group, the RRMS group exhibited significantly higher PVS volume fractions in white matter (PVS_w) (3.14‰±0.29‰ vs 2.91‰±0.30‰, t=2.877, P=0.006) and PVS volume fractions in deep gray matter (PVS_d) (2.25‰±0.10‰ vs 2.17‰±0.09‰, t=2.681, P=0.010), indicating an enlargement of the PVS. Compared with the healthy control group, the RRMS group showed a significant decrease in both white matter volumes [297.3 (274.3, 340.2) ml vs (324.2 (311.0, 350.0) ml, U=-2.085, P=0.037] and deep grey matter volumes [40.2 (34.9, 43.6) ml vs 42.7 (40.2, 44.8) ml, U=-2.292, P=0.022]. Compared with the healthy control group, the RRMS group showed significantly lower scores in cognitive function assessments ( P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that PVS_w in the RRMS group was significantly positively correlated with age ( r=0.486), white matter lesion volumes ( r=0.437) and deep gray matter lesion volumes ( r=0.394;all P<0.05); PVS_d was also significantly positively correlated with white matter lesion volumes ( r=0.418) and deep gray matter lesion volumes ( r=0.480; both P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age ( B=0.011,95% CI 0.004-0.017), white matter lesion volumes ( B=0.026,95% CI 0.011-0.040) and deep gray matter lesion volumes ( B=0.401,95% CI 0.032-0.771) in the RRMS group were significantly positively correlated with PVS_w, while white matter lesion volumes ( B=0.007,95% CI 0.001-0.014) and deep gray matter lesion volumes ( B=0.204,95% CI 0.029-0.380) were significantly positively correlated with PVS_d (both P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that immediate memory score in the RRMS group was significantly negatively correlated with PVS_d ( r=-0.428), and was significantly positively correlated with education level ( r=0.471), deep gray matter volumes ( r=0.530) and total brain volumes ( r=0.389; all P<0.05); short-term delayed memory score in the RRMS group was significantly negatively correlated with age ( r=-0.390), PVS_w ( r=-0.417) and white matter lesion volumes ( r=-0.438), and was significantly positively correlated with gender ( r=0.393), white matter volumes ( r=0.478), deep gray matter volumes ( r=0.579) and total brain volumes ( r=0.602;all P<0.05); verbal fluency test score in the RRMS group was significantly negatively correlated with PVS_d ( r=-0.409) and was significantly positively correlated with education level ( r=0.419) and total brain volumes ( r=0.400;all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that PVS_d ( B=-5.572, 95% CI -11.513--0.368) and brain volumes ( B=0.012, 95% CI 0.001-0.023) in the RRMS group were both significant predictors of immediate recall score, while PVS_d ( B=-14.203,95% CI -27.514--0.891) was an independent predictor of verbal fluency test score (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The PVS is enlarged in individuals with RRMS compared with the healthy controls, and increased lesion volumes may be a significant predictor. Furthermore, enlarged PVS in the deep gray matter may be a significant predictor of impairment of verbal memory and verbal function in individuals with RRMS.
