Degree and pattern of atrophy in multiple sclerosis - a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION Prior research regarding multiple sclerosis (MS) has extensively examined the inflammatory processes, while the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, particularly cerebral atrophy, remain less understood. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the current knowledge about the degree and pattern of atrophy in various types of MS, and its relationship with the clinical progression of the disease and the impact of treatment on brain volume loss.

MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic review was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant articles published between 1 January 2018 and 1 July 2024 available in the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were obtained using a systematic search strategy. The following keywords were used to screen the publications: 'multiple sclerosis' and/or 'MS' and 'atrophy'. The eligibility criteria that identified and described outcomes were pre-established by the authors. Studies constituting clinical research protocols, theoretical inspections, articles describing other measurement methods or comparing measuring methods, conference abstracts and articles in a language other than English were excluded.

RESULTS Of the 1,911 records obtained from the systematic search based on keywords, 26 were included in the final review. Publications enabled the analysis of atrophy in patients compared to the healthy population, the evaluation of atrophy concerning different MS subtypes, its correlation with disability progression, the patterns of atrophy and the impact of disease-modifying therapies. Moreover, clinical trials involving atrophy measurements in MS patients were also collected.

DISCUSSION This systematic review confirmed the role of assessing volumetric changes in brain regions as a useful tool in the diagnosis of MS, assessment of its progression, and response to treatment. Given the relatively small number of new reports in the last six years, it also indicated the need for further research, especially using atrophy to assess the efficacy of therapy.