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Published on: December 9, 2015
Metabolites predict lesion formation and severity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Antoine M Klauser1, Oliver T Wiebenga2, Anand Jc Eijlers3
1Department of Anatomy & Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands/Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|April 14, 2017
Summary
Increased glutamate levels predict new multiple sclerosis lesions. Mild lesions show rising creatine and choline during formation, offering insights into white matter disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Metabolomics
- Multiple Sclerosis Pathophysiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is defined by white matter lesions visible via T2-weighted MRI.
- Early metabolic changes preceding lesion development in MS remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect metabolite alterations that precede white matter lesion formation in MS.
- To correlate metabolic changes with the pathological severity of lesions over time.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 59 relapsing-remitting MS patients with four MRI scans (6-month intervals).
- Utilized short-echo time magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Main Results:
- Glutamate levels increased 6-12 months before new T2-visible lesions appeared (p=0.039).
- Increases in creatine and choline correlated with diffusion changes (radial and axial diffusivity) preceding lesion onset.
- Mild lesions showed elevated creatine and choline during formation, unlike severe lesions.
Conclusions:
- Elevated glutamate serves as an early indicator for new white matter lesions in MS.
- Metabolic shifts involving creatine and choline are associated with the development of mild MS lesions.
