Comparison of conventional MRI characteristics among the study groupsa
| MS (n = 30) | dNPSLE (n = 23) | HC (n = 43) | MS vs HCsb (P Value) | dNPSLE vs HCSc (P Value) | MS vs dNPSLEd (P Value) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 lesion number (mean) (SD) | 31.1 (19.2) | 11.7 (9.3) | 7.9 (4.8) | <.0001 | .06 | <.0001 |
| T2 lesion volume (mean) (SD) | 15.2 (3.1) | 1.9 (1.3) | 1.6 (.4) | <.0001 | .023 | <.0001 |
| Normalized WB volume (mean) (SD) | 1490.4 (113.5) | 1570.3 (79) | 1596.5 (64.2) | <.0001 | .465 | .003 |
| Normalized WM volume (mean) (SD) | 784.5 (58.0) | 829.3 (45.1) | 849.0 (40.8) | <.0001 | .285 | .005 |
| Normalized GM volume (mean) (SD) | 704.0 (63.9) | 751.5 (58.8) | 755.3 (42) | .001 | .964 | .008 |
Note:—WB indicates whole-brain; dNPSLE, neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus with diffuse syndromes.
↵a The statistical analysis among the groups was performed using 1-way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey correction, except for the T2 lesion number and volume, which were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. All volumes are given in milliliters.
↵b P value for MS vs HCs.
↵c P value for SLE vs HCs.
↵d P value for MS vs SLE.