INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an infl ammatory demyelinating disease leading not only to physical disability but also to cognitive dysfunction. The aim of our study was to test cognitive functions of MS patients with mild relapsing-remitting form and to fi nd out the relationship between cognitive functions and brain volumetry. METHODS: 52 patients (RRMSp) and 23 age-related healthy participants (CON) were enrolled. Mild disability was defi ned by mean EDSS 2.4 (≤ 4.0), and by median of disease duration 5.2 years. Cognitive status was tested using Single Digit Modality Test (SDMT). Brain volumetry was processed in FreeSurfer 2.0.0. RESULTS: RRMSp patients showed signifi cantly lower SDMT score than CON. SDMT results correlated positively with volume of thalamus, putamen and nc. caudate, and negatively with optic chiasma volume. Compared with CON, RRMSp presented with signifi cantly lower volume in left and right nc. accumbent, cuneus and insular GM, right putamen, total brain cortical grey matter (GM), white matters hypointensities, and 3 rd ventricular widths. CONCLUSION: To our best knowledge, this is the fi rst study that presents results showing a correlation of lower SDMT with higher optic chiasma volume, due to its subclinical chronic demyelination. We confi rmed that GM atrophy is involved in cognitive functions in MS (Tab.
Introduction. Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is a rare inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorder, chiefly involving the brainstem, especially the pons. The diagnosis is challenging, requires careful exclusion of alternative diagnoses and a targeted therapeutic approach. CLIPPERS is known to respond well to corticosteroids, but the treatment needs to be long-term and can cause significant side-effects. Moreover, subsequent corticosteroid withdrawal often leads to a relapse. It has been suggested that anti-CD20 molecules could benefit several antibody-mediated CNS inflammatory diseases, including CLIPPERS. Case report. This paper describes two cases of CLIPPERS. The first demonstrates the benefit of early introduction of corticosteroids with side effects in cases of long-term use. The second demonstrates the efficacy of ocrelizumab (anti-CD20 molecule) in a severe course of CLIPPERS. Conclusion. These two cases bring attention to this rare, often misdiagnosed but treatable disease.
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