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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Magnetic resonance fingerprinting in multiple sclerosis
Daniel Ontaneda1, Vikas Gulani2, Anagha Deshmane3
1Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, United States.
Background:
In this cross sectional study, we used MRF to investigate tissue properties of normal-appearing white matter, gray matter, and lesions in relapsing remitting MS (n = 21), secondary progressive MS (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 9). A FISP-based MRF sequence was used for acquisition, imaging time 5 min 15 s. MRF T1 and T2 relaxation times were measured from lesional tissue, normal-appearing frontal white matter, corpus callous, thalamus, and caudate. Differences between healthy controls and MS were examined using ANCOVA adjusted for age and sex. Spearman rank correlations were assessed between T1 and T2 relaxation times and clinical measures.
Objectives:
To examine brain T1 and T2 values using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) in healthy controls and MS.
Methods:
The subjects included 21 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS, 16 secondary progressive (SP) MS, and 9 age- and sex-matched HC without manifest neurological disease participating in a longitudinal MRI study. A 3T/ FISP-based MRF sequence was acquired. Regions of interest were drawn for lesions and normal appearing white matter. ANCOVA adjusted for age and sex were used to compare the groups with significance set at 0.05.
Results:
A step-wise increase in T1 and T2 relaxation times was found between healthy controls, relapsing remitting MS, and secondary progressive MS. Significant differences were found in T1 and T2 between MS and healthy controls in the frontal normal-appearing white matter, corpus callosum, and thalamus (p < 0.04 for all). Significant differences in T1 and T2 between RR and SPMS were found in the frontal normal-appearing white matter and T2 lesions (p < 0.02 for all). T1 relaxation from the frontal normal-appearing white matter correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale [ρ = 0.62, p < 0.001], timed 25 foot walk (ρ = 0.45, p = 0.01), 9 hole peg test (ρ = 0.62, p < 0.001), and paced auditory serial addition test (ρ = -0.4, p = 0.01).
Conclusion:
These results suggest that MRF may be a clinically feasible quantitative approach for characterizing tissue damage in MS.
Insights
Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) reveals increased T1 and T2 relaxation times in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue, correlating with disease severity. This quantitative imaging technique shows promise for assessing MS-related tissue damage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Quantitative MRI
- Biophysics
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease affecting white and gray matter.
- Assessing tissue properties in MS is crucial for understanding disease progression and treatment efficacy.
- Conventional MRI methods have limitations in quantifying subtle tissue changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain tissue properties using Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS).
- To compare MRF-derived T1 and T2 relaxation times between MS patients and healthy controls (HC).
- To explore the correlation between MRF parameters and clinical disability measures in MS.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 21 RRMS, 16 SPMS, and 9 HC.
- Acquisition of a fast imaging sequence with steady-state free precession (FISP)-based MRF at 3T.
- Measurement of T1 and T2 relaxation times in various brain regions, including normal-appearing white matter, gray matter, and lesions.
- Statistical analysis using ANCOVA adjusted for age and sex, and Spearman rank correlations.
Main Results:
- A stepwise increase in T1 and T2 relaxation times was observed from HC to RRMS to SPMS.
- Significant differences in T1 and T2 values were found between MS patients and HC in the frontal normal-appearing white matter, corpus callosum, and thalamus.
- T1 relaxation in the frontal normal-appearing white matter showed significant correlations with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), timed 25-foot walk, 9-hole peg test, and paced auditory serial addition test.
Conclusions:
- MRF provides a clinically feasible quantitative method for characterizing tissue damage in MS.
- MRF-derived relaxation times can differentiate between MS subtypes and healthy controls.
- MRF parameters correlate with clinical disability, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for MS progression.
