Abnormal Baseline Brain Activity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis With Simple Spinal Cord Involvement Detected by Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the baseline brain activity in patients with multiple sclerosis with simple spinal cord involvement (MS-SSCI) using regional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) as indexes. Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 24 patients with MS-SSCI and 24 healthy controls and were processed using the Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data Analysis Toolkit. The relationships between expanded disability status scale scores, abnormal baseline brain activity, and disease duration were explored. Results Compared with the controls, patients with MS-SSCI showed decreased ALFF in the right middle temporal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, lingual gyrus, and cuneus and increased ALFF in the right insula and bilateral supramarginal gyrus. Regions of abnormal fALFF were similar with those of ALFF. A significant correlation between expanded disability status scale scores and ALFF/fALFF was noted only in the right supramarginal gyrus. Conclusions Abnormal regional brain activity was detected in patients with MS-SSCI, which is probably due to spinal cord damage or potential brain damage.