MRI graph parameters are longitudinal markers of neuronal integrity in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Immunology

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
• Immunoablation and autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (IAHSCT) is a treatment for MS.
• Understanding treatment response and disease progression is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if structural network parameters improve prediction of MS treatment response post-IAHSCT.
• To investigate cortical changes in progressive MS after suppressing relapsing biology.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a phase 2 prospective study involving 24 MS patients.
• Assessment of magnetic resonance graph parameters, N-acetylaspartate to creatine ratio (NAA/Cr), and serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) pre- and post-IAHSCT.
• Correlation and multivariate analyses to evaluate model improvements.

Main Results:

• Post-IAHSCT, higher NAA/Cr and lower sNfL correlated with more favorable network parameters.
• Changes in network parameters (degree, path length, γ) were associated with NAA/Cr and sNfL.
• Network parameters explained 14% and 35% more variance in NAA/Cr and sNfL, respectively, than traditional models.

Conclusions:

• Structural network parameters are valuable markers for MS disease severity.
• These parameters can capture cortical changes relevant to progressive, non-relapsing MS biology.
• Network analysis offers added utility beyond traditional markers for MS treatment response.