Evolution of peripheral nerve changes in early multiple sclerosis-a longitudinal MR neurography study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system demyelinating disease.
• Peripheral nerve involvement is increasingly recognized in MS.
• Understanding peripheral nerve changes is crucial for MS management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the evolution of peripheral nerve changes in newly diagnosed MS patients.
• To utilize quantitative MR neurography (MRN) for assessing peripheral nerves.
• To identify biomarkers for detecting and monitoring peripheral nerve involvement in MS.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 19 newly diagnosed MS patients and 19 healthy controls.
• High-resolution 3T MR neurography of the sciatic nerve using T2-relaxometry.
• Quantitative biomarkers T2 relaxation time (T2app) and proton spin density (PSD) were measured.
• Follow-up scans were performed after a median of 12 months.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited increased T2app and decreased PSD compared to controls at diagnosis and follow-up.
• T2app significantly increased, and PSD further declined in MS patients at follow-up.
• Individual variability in peripheral nerve changes was observed over one year.

Conclusions:

• Peripheral nerve involvement is evident at MS diagnosis and progresses within the first year.
• Quantitative MRN offers non-invasive biomarkers for detecting and monitoring peripheral nerve changes in MS.
• These findings highlight the importance of assessing peripheral nerves in MS.