OFSEP, a nationwide cohort of people with multiple sclerosis: Consensus minimal MRI protocol

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Medical Imaging
• Public Health

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severe neurological disease causing significant physical and mental disability.
• Disease-modifying treatments for MS exist but require careful patient monitoring for efficacy and side effects.
• Existing patient follow-up systems need enhancement for comprehensive data collection and analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a standardized, systematic, and longitudinal follow-up framework for a large cohort of multiple sclerosis patients in France.
• To improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of patient care through integrated clinical, biological, and imaging data.
• To leverage a unique, large-scale dataset for advanced research into multiple sclerosis.

Main Methods:

• The "Observatoire français de la sclérose en plaques" (OFSEP) project coordinates follow-up across 62 French centers using the EDMUS software.
• Three working groups (clinical, biological, imaging) were established to define standards and protocols.
• A common brain and spinal cord MRI acquisition protocol was developed and accepted, with manufacturer support for implementation.

Main Results:

• A standardized MRI acquisition protocol for brain and spinal cord has been defined and approved for all French MRI centers.
• Collaboration with major MRI manufacturers ensures the protocol's integration into routine practice.
• The OFSEP project facilitates the systematic longitudinal follow-up of approximately 41,000 MS patients.

Conclusions:

• The OFSEP protocol provides a standardized approach to MRI follow-up for a large multiple sclerosis cohort.
• This standardization is expected to enhance patient care quality and safety.
• The initiative creates an unprecedented opportunity for population-based research on multiple sclerosis using real-world data.