A Meta-Analysis Of The Value Of Spinal Cord MRI In The Prediction Of Conversion From Clinically Isolated Syndromes To Multiple Sclerosis

Objective:To investigate the relationship between spinal cord lesion in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients and the risk of conversing to multiple sclerosis (MS)Method:The databases of relevant studies were searched from PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane library, Ovid (date:January 1980-August 2014).Presence of abnormal spinal MRI and the number of conversion to MS were recorded. The risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of CIS to MS with abnormal baseline spinal MRI VS Control was calculated by using the inverse variance with random effects model in Review Manager 5.2 software.Result:9 studies met the inclusion criteria and minimum quality threshold, with the 829 CIS patients,340 of them had developed to MS. The result of the meta-analysis indicated that baseline spinal cord lesion for CIS patients was significantly associated with increased risk of conversion to MS (RR=2.83,95%CI:1.36-4.16), which showed statistically significant difference(P<0.01).Conclusion:This meta-analysis suggested solid statistical evidence that the CIS patients with an abnormal baseline spinal cord MRI had a greater risk of converting to MS comparing with the normal ones. However, Long-term follow-up of CIS patients need proceeding to verify the association and establish other risks for the development of MS.