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Published on: June 30, 2014
Correlations of brain MRI parameters to disability in multiple sclerosis
K Schreiber1, P S Sørensen, N Koch-Henriksen
1Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospital, Department of Neurology, Denmark.
Objectives:
The objective was to correlate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2-weighted lesion load and measures of white matter atrophy in the brain to disability in a population-based sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Material And Methods:
A well defined cohort of patients was drawn at random from the general MS population by using the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry. A semi-automated local thresholding technique was used to quantify T2-weighted lesions on MRI; whereas manual tracing was applied to measure the corpus callosum brain ratio (CCR) and the ventricle brain ratio (VBR).
Results:
A sample of 86 patients with a mean age of 43.3 years (SD 4.3), mean disease duration of 13.6 years (SD 4.4) and a median Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of 6.0 was identified. The correlation between total lesion area of the brain (TLA) and disability (EDSS) for the whole sample was moderate (Spearman rank correlation coefficient r=0.48, P<0.001). Also correlations of CCR and VBR to disability (r=0.32-0.46) were significant.
Conclusions:
Correlations of TLA and disability in this study were rather strong. Hence, T2-weighted MRI lesion load in the brain still plays an important role as a surrogate marker of disease and as a secondary outcome measure in phase III treatment trials.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2-weighted lesion load and white matter atrophy correlate with multiple sclerosis (MS) disability. These MRI findings are valuable for tracking disease progression and evaluating treatments in MS clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Assessing disability progression in MS is crucial for patient management and clinical trials.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a key tool for visualizing MS pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate T2-weighted lesion load and white matter atrophy with disability in a population-based MS sample.
- To investigate the utility of MRI metrics as surrogate markers for MS progression.
- To evaluate the role of MRI in phase III treatment trials for MS.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort of 86 MS patients was randomly selected from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry.
- T2-weighted lesions were quantified using a semi-automated local thresholding technique on MRI.
- White matter atrophy was measured by calculating the corpus callosum brain ratio (CCR) and ventricle brain ratio (VBR) via manual tracing.
Main Results:
- A moderate to strong correlation was found between total lesion area (TLA) and disability (Expanded Disability Status Score, EDSS) (r=0.48, P<0.001).
- Significant correlations were also observed between CCR and VBR and disability (r=0.32-0.46).
- The study sample had a mean age of 43.3 years, mean disease duration of 13.6 years, and a median EDSS of 6.0.
Conclusions:
- T2-weighted MRI lesion load demonstrates a strong correlation with disability in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- MRI-derived lesion load serves as a valuable surrogate marker for disease progression in MS.
- T2-weighted MRI metrics are important secondary outcome measures for phase III MS treatment trials.
