Early perfusion changes in multiple sclerosis patients as assessed by MRI using arterial spin labeling

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Gadolinium-perfusion MRI reveals gray matter abnormalities in early multiple sclerosis (MS), preceding structural changes.
• These perfusion alterations may correlate with cognitive deficits, particularly in working memory.
• Arterial spin labeling (ASL) offers a non-invasive alternative for perfusion assessment, avoiding intravenous contrast agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate perfusion changes in early MS patients, independent of cerebral volume alterations.
• To evaluate the suitability of ASL as a non-invasive monitoring tool for MS.

Main Methods:

• ASL MRI was used to measure cerebral blood flow and bolus arrival time in 28 MS patients and 19 healthy controls.
• Neuropsychological tests (EDSS, SDMT) and volumetric MRI assessed clinical status and brain structure.
• Spearman's correlation analysis examined relationships between clinical scores and perfusion parameters.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited reduced cerebral blood flow and prolonged bolus arrival time compared to controls.
• A negative correlation was observed between EDSS scores and thalamus transit time.
• EDSS scores also correlated negatively with cerebral blood flow in the frontal cortex.

Conclusions:

• ASL perfusion imaging can detect early changes in MS, even without evident structural volumetric differences.
• Perfusion parameters show promise as potential biomarkers for monitoring disease progression in MS patients.
• Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the utility of ASL in MS management.