Enlarged choroid plexus related to cortical atrophy in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between choroid plexus volume and whole brain morphology in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods: Fifty-one patients with MS, 42 patients with NMOSD, and 56 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. The morphological changes in choroid plexus and whole brain tissue were compared between three groups and the correlations between choroid plexus volume and brain atrophy were further investigated. The longitudinal alterations of brain morphology in 25 MS and 20 NMOSD patients were compared.

Results: Compared to the HC group, the choroid plexus volumes were increased in the MS group (p < 0.001) but not in the NMOSD group (p > 0.05). Compared to the HC group, the MS group showed reduced cortex thickness, deep gray matter volume, and increased ventricle system volume, and the NMOSD group showed increased third ventricle volume (all p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). In the MS group, there were widespread correlations between enlarged choroid plexus volume and reduced cerebral cortex thickness (p < 0.05, r = -0.292~-0.538, false discovery rate corrected). The interval time was not significantly different between the MS (median: 1.37 years) and NMOSD group (median: 1.25 years) (p > 0.05). In MS, compared with the baseline, the right hippocampus and nucleus accumbens volumes were decreased in long follow-up, and bilateral lateral ventricle volumes were increased both in short and long follow-up (all p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected).

Conclusions: The enlarged choroid plexus related to reduced cortical thickness and progressive local brain atrophy are shown in MS patients, but not obvious in NMOSD patients.

Key points: • MS and NMOSD have different altered patterns in choroid plexus volume and brain atrophy. • The enlarged choroid plexus related to brain atrophy is shown in MS patients, but not obvious in NMOSD patients. • Progressive local brain atrophy is shown in MS patients, but not obvious in NMOSD patients.

Keywords: Choroid plexus; Cortical atrophy; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.