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Updated: May 27, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Assessing abnormal iron content in the deep gray matter of patients with multiple sclerosis versus healthy controls
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Background And Purpose:
It is well known that patients with MS tend to have abnormal iron deposition in and around the MS plaques, in the basal ganglia and the THA. In this study, we used SWI to quantify iron content in patients with MS and healthy volunteers.
Materials And Methods:
Fifty-two patients with MS were recruited to assess abnormal iron content in their basal ganglia and THA structures. One hundred twenty-two healthy subjects were recruited to establish a baseline of normal iron content in deep GM structures. Each structure was separated into 2 regions: a low-iron-content region and a high-iron-content region. The average phase, the percentage area, and the total phase of the high-iron-content region were evaluated. A weighting was also assigned to each subject depending on the level of iron content and its deviation from the normal range.
Results:
A clear separation between iron content in healthy subjects versus patients with MS was seen. For healthy subjects 13% and for patients with MS 65% showed an iron-weighting factor >3 SDs from the normal mean (P < .05). The results for those patients younger than 40 years are even more impressive. In these cases, only 1% of healthy subjects and 67% of patients with RRMS showed abnormally high iron content.
Conclusions:
Iron-weighting factors in the basal ganglia, THA, and the midbrain appeared to be abnormal in roughly two-thirds of patients with MS as measured by SWI.
Insights
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) show abnormal iron deposition in deep brain structures. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) quantified iron content, revealing significant differences between MS patients and healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurodegeneration
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with abnormal iron deposition in brain regions like the basal ganglia and thalamus (THA).
- Quantifying iron content may serve as a diagnostic or prognostic indicator in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify iron content in deep gray matter structures of patients with MS using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI).
- To compare iron deposition patterns between MS patients and healthy volunteers.
Main Methods:
- SWI was used to assess iron content in the basal ganglia and THA of 52 MS patients and 122 healthy controls.
- Iron content was evaluated by analyzing average phase, percentage area, and total phase within high-iron-content regions.
- An iron-weighting factor was calculated based on iron content and its deviation from the normal range.
Main Results:
- A significant difference in iron-weighting factors was observed between MS patients and healthy subjects (65% vs. 13% with factors >3 SDs from the mean, P < .05).
- In patients younger than 40, 67% with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) exhibited abnormally high iron content compared to 1% of healthy controls.
- These findings highlight SWI's sensitivity in detecting iron deposition abnormalities in MS.
Conclusions:
- Iron-weighting factors measured by SWI are abnormal in approximately two-thirds of MS patients.
- Abnormal iron deposition is prevalent in the basal ganglia, THA, and midbrain of individuals with MS.
