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Updated: May 14, 2025
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
The characteristics and influencing factors of paramagnetic rim lesions in Chinese MS patients: A 7T MRI study
Xinyao Liu1,2, Yue Wang1, Ning Wei1,2
1China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Background:
Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) are a significant factor for disability progression and prognosis, but their characteristics in the Chinese population are unclear.
Objective:
To explore PRLs in Chinese MS patients using 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including their number, proportion, distribution, and associated factors.
Methods:
Patients from the 7T MRI subgroup of the China National Registry of Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases (CNRID) were prospectively included. PRLs were assessed on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-phase images. Patients were grouped by PRL count (0, 1-3, 4-10, >10). Associations between clinical characteristics and PRL count were analyzed using multivariable linear regression, while correlations with disease duration were assessed using Pearson partial correlation and regression.
Results:
Among 110 participants, 96 (87.3%) had at least one PRL. In PRL groups, proportions were 12.7%, 20.0%, 29.1%, and 38.2%. PRL count positively correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), total lesion count, and volume and negatively with Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT; p < 0.05). Longer disease duration was associated with a lower PRL proportion after adjusting for age and sex (β = -0.006, p = 0.032).
Conclusion:
A high proportion of Chinese MS patients in our 7T MRI cohort had PRLs, with many exhibiting multiple PRLs (⩾4). PRL count was influenced by EDSS, SDMT, total lesion count, and volume, while PRL proportion negatively correlated with disease duration.
Insights
A high proportion of Chinese multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs), with many having multiple lesions. PRL count correlates with disability and lesion load, while their proportion decreases with longer disease duration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) are crucial indicators of disease activity and progression in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Understanding the characteristics of PRLs in the Chinese population is essential for accurate prognosis and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence, distribution, and clinical associations of PRLs in Chinese MS patients.
- To utilize high-resolution 7T MRI for detailed PRL assessment.
Main Methods:
- Prospective inclusion of patients from the China National Registry of Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases (CNRID) 7T MRI subgroup.
- Assessment of PRLs using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-phase images.
- Statistical analysis including multivariable linear regression and Pearson partial correlation to identify associations with clinical factors and disease duration.
Main Results:
- 87.3% of 110 Chinese MS patients had at least one PRL.
- PRL count positively correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), total lesion count, and lesion volume.
- PRL count negatively correlated with Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) scores.
- A longer disease duration was associated with a lower proportion of PRLs, even after adjusting for age and sex.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a high prevalence of PRLs in Chinese MS patients, with a significant number having multiple lesions (⩾4).
- PRL burden is linked to clinical disability (EDSS) and overall lesion burden (total lesion count and volume).
- The inverse relationship between PRL proportion and disease duration suggests potential changes in lesion activity over time.
