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The basal ganglia: a substrate for fatigue in multiple sclerosis

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Introduction

The origin of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains uncertain. However, the use of nonconventional magnetic resonance techniques has increased our understanding of this problem. We aimed to study the relationship between fatigue in MS and the presence of focal dysfunction in the basal ganglia and frontal white matter.

Methods

Included in the study were 41 patients with relapsing–remitting MS with mild disability and 20 healthy controls. Fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Patients were classified as “fatigued” when they expressed a subjective feeling of fatigue, and the FSS score was ≥5.0 and/or the MFIS score was >38. Patients with no subjective fatigue were classified as “nonfatigued” when the FSS score was <4.0. Proton magnetic resonance spectra were obtained from two different regions: the frontal white matter and the lentiform nucleus. The relationships between fatigue and NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho and Cho/Cr ratios were analysed.

Results

A significant decrease in NAA/Cr in the lentiform nucleus region in patients with fatigue was observed. No differences between the groups were found in the frontal white matter.

Conclusion

Although confirmatory studies are needed, our results would support the idea that a specific dysfunction or involvement of the basal ganglia might partly contribute to the development of MS-related fatigue.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Gelabert, M.D. Blasco, and J.F. Corral for dedicated assistance during the project, Jose Vicente and Rosalia Horno for their work and attention given to the patients, and Mr. Joseph Graells for language editing. We also thank the Fundació d’Esclerosi Múltiple (FEM) and the REDCIEN (03/06). We are particularly grateful to our patients and the healthy volunteers for their collaboration. The MRUI software package was kindly provided by the participants of the EU Network programmes: Human Capital and Mobility (CHRX-CT94-0432) and Training and Mobility of Researchers (ERB-FMRX-CT970160).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unitat de Neuroimmunologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Pg. Vall d’Hebron 119–129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain

    N. Téllez, J. Río, M. Tintoré, C. Nos & X. Montalban

  2. Unitat de Ressonancia Magnètica (IDI), Servei de Radiologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Alonso & A. Rovira

Authors
  1. N. Téllez
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  2. J. Alonso
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  3. J. Río
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  4. M. Tintoré
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  5. C. Nos
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  6. X. Montalban
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  7. A. Rovira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Téllez.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

This study was partly supported by Spain’s MEC-FIS programme, grant no. 01/1374.

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Téllez, N., Alonso, J., Río, J. et al. The basal ganglia: a substrate for fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Neuroradiology 50, 17–23 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-007-0304-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-007-0304-3

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