Magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings as related to fatigue and cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis patients with mild disability.

BACKGROUND

The origin of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides an insight into metabolic properties of the brain.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate brain MRS measurements in MS patients, with regard to fatigue and cognition.

METHODS

The study comprised 32 MS patients and 43 controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and cognition - using the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (parts of BRBNT). MRS voxels were placed in the parietal white matter (PWM) and the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG); N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho) and myoinositol (mI) to creatine (Cr) ratios were determined. Relationships were searched between MRS measurements and fatigue as well as BRBNT results.

RESULTS

MS patients in comparison with controls showed decreased NAA/Cr and increased mI/Cr ratios in PCG and PWM, respectively. No significant relationships between MRS parameters and fatigue measures, BRBNT results or MS-related variables were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The decrease of NAA and increase of mI within white and gray matters in MS patients do not show a significant relationship with cognitive performance or fatigue.