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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Relationships between quantitative spinal cord MRI and retinal layers in multiple sclerosis
Jiwon Oh1, Elias S Sotirchos2, Shiv Saidha2
1From the Departments of Neurology (J.O., E.S.S., S.S., A.W., S.D.N., K.Z., D.S.R., P.A.C.), Electrical and Computer Engineering (M.C., J.P.), Computer Science (J.P.), Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (K.Z.), Biostatistics (M.C., M.D.-W., D.S.R.), and Radiology and Radiological Science (D.S.R.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Neurology (J.O.), Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada; Motion Analysis Laboratory (K.Z.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD; Department of Neurology (L.J.B.), University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia; Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology (E.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Translational Neuroradiology Unit (D.S.R.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD. pcalabr1@jhmi.edu joh20@jhu.edu.
Spinal cord MRI and retinal imaging correlate in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Both measures independently predict clinical disability, offering a more comprehensive view of MS pathology beyond brain atrophy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Assessing clinical disability in MS often relies on whole-brain atrophy measures.
- Integrating spinal cord and retinal imaging may provide a more complete picture of MS pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (SC-MRI) and retinal measures in MS patients.
- To determine if SC-MRI and retinal measures independently correlate with clinical disability in MS.
Main Methods:
- 102 MS patients and 11 controls underwent 3-tesla SC-MRI and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
- SC-MRI included diffusion-tensor and magnetization-transfer imaging; OCT provided automated retinal segmentation.
- Clinical assessments included visual acuity, disability scales, and sensory/motor function tests.
Main Results:
- Correlations were found between spinal cord measures (CSA, FA, λ⊥) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in MS patients.
- Spinal cord cross-sectional area (SC-CSA) and pRNFL independently predicted visual acuity and vibration sensation threshold.
- SC-CSA alone was independently associated with Expanded Disability Status Scale, hip-flexion strength, and MS functional composite.
Conclusions:
- Spinal cord and retinal imaging show significant correlations in MS.
- Both SC-MRI and retinal measures independently relate to clinical dysfunction, supplementing brain atrophy assessments.
- Combining SC-MRI and retinal imaging offers a more thorough evaluation of MS pathology and its contribution to disability.
