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Updated: Aug 2, 2025
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging to track cerebral alterations in multiple sclerosis brain: A
Nora Vandeleene1, Camille Guillemin1,2, Solène Dauby1,3
1GIGA CRC In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Introduction:
Quantitative MRI quantifies tissue microstructural properties and supports the characterization of cerebral tissue damages. With an MPM protocol, 4 parameter maps are constructed: MTsat, PD, R1 and R2*, reflecting tissue physical properties associated with iron and myelin contents. Thus, qMRI is a good candidate for in vivo monitoring of cerebral damage and repair mechanisms related to MS. Here, we used qMRI to investigate the longitudinal microstructural changes in MS brain.
Methods:
Seventeen MS patients (age 25-65, 11 RRMS) were scanned on a 3T MRI, in two sessions separated with a median of 30 months, and the parameters evolution was evaluated within several tissue classes: NAWM, NACGM and NADGM, as well as focal WM lesions. An individual annual rate of change for each qMRI parameter was computed, and its correlation to clinical status was evaluated. For WM plaques, three areas were defined, and a GLMM tested the effect of area, time points, and their interaction on each median qMRI parameter value.
Results:
Patients with a better clinical evolution, that is, clinically stable or improving state, showed positive annual rate of change in MTsat and R2* within NAWM and NACGM, suggesting repair mechanisms in terms of increased myelin content and/or axonal density as well as edema/inflammation resorption. When examining WM lesions, qMRI parameters within surrounding NAWM showed microstructural modifications, even before any focal lesion is visible on conventional FLAIR MRI.
Conclusion:
The results illustrate the benefit of multiple qMRI data in monitoring subtle changes within normal appearing brain tissues and plaque dynamics in relation with tissue repair or disease progression.
Insights
Quantitative MRI (qMRI) reveals microstructural repair in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with stable or improving conditions. This technique tracks subtle brain changes, aiding in monitoring MS progression and repair mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (qMRI)
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
Background:
- Quantitative MRI (qMRI) offers insights into tissue microstructural properties, crucial for characterizing cerebral damage.
- Multi-parameter mapping (MPM) in qMRI generates parameter maps (MTsat, PD, R1, R2*) reflecting iron and myelin content.
- qMRI is a promising tool for in vivo monitoring of cerebral damage and repair in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate longitudinal microstructural changes in the brain of MS patients using qMRI.
- To correlate qMRI parameter evolution with clinical status and disease progression in MS.
- To assess the utility of qMRI in monitoring subtle changes in normal-appearing brain tissues and focal lesions.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen MS patients underwent 3T MRI scans at two time points, separated by a median of 30 months.
- qMRI parameter evolution (MTsat, PD, R1, R2*) was analyzed in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), normal-appearing gray matter (NACGM), and white matter (WM) lesions.
- Longitudinal changes were quantified as annual rates, and statistical models (GLMM) were used to analyze parameter variations.
Main Results:
- Patients with better clinical outcomes exhibited positive annual changes in MTsat and R2* within NAWM and NACGM, suggesting myelin repair and edema resorption.
- Microstructural modifications were detected in NAWM surrounding WM lesions, preceding their visibility on conventional FLAIR MRI.
- qMRI parameters demonstrated sensitivity to subtle, longitudinal microstructural changes in MS brains.
Conclusions:
- Multiple qMRI parameters effectively monitor subtle changes in normal-appearing brain tissues and plaque dynamics in MS.
- qMRI data correlate with tissue repair mechanisms and disease progression, offering valuable insights beyond conventional imaging.
- This study highlights the potential of qMRI for longitudinal monitoring of MS, aiding in the understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses.
