Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Disease Modifying Therapies On Deep Gray Matter: A Longitudinal Comparative Study, Wendy Jin, Evanthia Bernitsas

Medical Student Research Symposium

Summary

Cerebral gray matter (GM) atrophy is an important factor in determining disability in Multiple Sclerosis^4,9. Disease modifying therapies reduce the GM atrophy to some degree, both in the cortical and deep gray matter (dGM). A previous study has shown that fingolimod (FTY720), asphingosine 1 phosphate immunomodulator can significantly reduced GM and thalamic volume loss in patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis(RRMS)¹. In addition to its effect on reducing dGM volume loss, fingolimod is also believed to have protective effect on focal and diffuse dGM damage^2,8. The effect of natalizumab on GM atrophy, however, is …