Monophasic acute demyelinating syndromes (ADS), monophasic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and multiple sclerosis (MS) in childhood lead to impaired age-expected growth of the cerebellum. This according to a study of cerebellar volumes from 472 MRI scans of 98 patients with ADS, ADEM, and MS and 897 MRI scans of 418 healthy children. Researchers found:

• Cerebellar developmental trajectories followed a U-shaped curve, showing larger volumes in boys.

• Cerebellar volumes in all 3 patient groups failed to reach age-expected trajectories, leading to significantly smaller volumes, especially in the posterior lobes.

• Cerebellar volume reductions were of a similar magnitude to cerebral volume reductions.

• Cerebellar white matter volume declined in MS and ADEM patients, but remained similar to controls in monoADS patients.

• Cerebellar volumes did not correlate with either lesion volumes at onset or with physical activity.

Citation: Weier K, Fonov V, Aubert-Broche B, Arnold DL, Banwell B, Collins DL. Impaired growth of the cerebellum in pediatric-onset acquired CNS demyelinating disease. [Published online ahead of print November 9, 2015]. Mult Scler. doi: 10.1177/1352458515615224.