Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Cross-sectional correlation with brain MRI findings in 71 patients

Fatigue is am unexplained but common and disabling symptom in MS. We assess ed fatigue in 71 patients with MS and identified MS-fatigue (MSF) and MS-no nfatigue (MSNF) groups. Fatigue severity did not correlate with regional or global MRI plaque load or atrophy assessed by conventional sequences. No s ignificant differences were noted in any MRI measures between MSF and MSNF groups. We suggest that brain MRI disease topography or severity does not e xplain fatigue in MS and that fatigue is likely due to mechanisms poorly ch aracterized by conventional MRI.