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

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Increasing evidence indicates additional peripheral nerve involvement in early and chronic disease stages. To investigate the evolution of peripheral nerve changes in patients first diagnosed with MS using quantitative MR neurography.

This prospective study included 19 patients with newly diagnosed MS according to the revised McDonald criteria (16 female, mean 30.2 ± 7.1 years) and 19 age-/sex-matched healthy volunteers. High-resolution 3 T MR neurography of the sciatic nerve using a quantitative T2-relaxometry sequence was performed, which yielded the biomarkers of T2 relaxation time (T2app) and proton spin density (PSD). Follow-up scans of patients were performed after median of 12 months (range 7-16). Correlation analyses considered clinical symptoms, intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis, nerve conduction study, and lesion load on brain and spine MRI.

Patients showed increased T2app and decreased PSD compared to healthy controls at initial diagnosis and follow-up (p < 0.001 each). Compared to the initial scan, T2app further increased in patients at follow-up (p = 0.003). PSD further declined by at least 10% in 9/19 patients and remained stable in another 9/19 patients. Correlation analyses did not yield significant results.

Peripheral nerve involvement in MS appears at initial diagnosis and continues to evolve within 1 year follow-up with individual dynamics. Quantitative MRN provides non-invasive biomarkers to detect and monitor peripheral nerve changes in MS.