A long-term study with up to 20 years of follow-up has shown that cortical lesions at diagnosis predict conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and disability accumulation.
Dr Gian Marco Schiavi from the University of Verona, Italy, presented the new findings at ECTRIMS 2021. He noted recent research showing that the number of cortical lesions in SPMS patients after 30 years explains more than 40% of the variance in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. However, the long-term prognostic value of cortical lesions, when evaluated at the beginning of the disease, has yet to be determined.