Lesion pattern in patients with multiple sclerosis and depression

To assess if a specific lesion pattern or changes of the basal limbic system as seen in primary depression and depression associated with neurodegenerative disorders might be identified in depressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, we submitted 78 MS patients to a MRI examination consisting of a q...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Multiple sclerosis 2000-06, Vol.6 (3), p.156-162
Main Authors: Berg, D, Supprian, T, Thomae, J, Warmuth-Metz, M, Horowski, A, Zeiler, B, Magnus, T, Rieckmann, P, Becker, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - pathology
Depression - etiology
Echoencephalography
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis
Multiple Sclerosis - psychology
Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis
Neurologic Examination
Neurology
Neuropsychological Tests
Temporal Lobe - pathology
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Summary:To assess if a specific lesion pattern or changes of the basal limbic system as seen in primary depression and depression associated with neurodegenerative disorders might be identified in depressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, we submitted 78 MS patients to a MRI examination consisting of a quantitative measurement of lesions and of hyperintense signals from the pontomesencephalic midline (raphe). Furthermore relaxometry of the pontomesencephalic midline, a transcranial ultrasound examination rating its echogenicity semiquantitatively and a standardized neurological, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological assessment were obtained. Thirty-one patients fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for depression. Depressed MS patients had a significantly larger temporal lesion load than non-depressed MS patients, especially on the right side. A trend of difference was detected for lesions of the right parietal lobe, the right frontal lobe, the cerebellum and the total lesion load. Neither hyperintense signals or relaxometry nor echogenicity of the region at the level of the pontomesencephalic midline were significantly different between the groups. We conclude that depression in MS patients is not associated with an alteration of the basal limbic system at the brainstem as seen in Parkinson's disease or unipolar depression but with an increased lesion load of the projection areas of the basal limbic system.
ISSN:1352-4585
1477-0970
DOI:10.1177/135245850000600304