Iron accumulation in the deep gray matter of patients with multiple sclerosis: A study with gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging -

Objective: Iron accumulation in brain which can be imaged radiologically may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. This study’s aim is to compare iron content in the deep gray matter regions between MS patients and controls and to examine the relation of iron accumulation with disability. Method: Twenty four MS patients (mean age [±SD] 37.17±8.6 years) and 10 control subjects (mean age [±SD] 37.6±12.6 years) were included in the study. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores among MS patients were recorded. Signal intensities in the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, substantia nigra and red nucleus were measured for all individuals by placing regions of interests (ROIs) on cranial Gradient Echo (GE) magnetic resonance imaging sequence. Results: Deep gray matter signal intensity was found lower in MS patients compared to the control group for all anatomic regions that measured. It was seen that this difference reached statistically significant levels for the thalamus (p