TI-relaxation time changes over five years in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Papadopoulos ◽  
Daniel J Tozer ◽  
Leonora Fisniku ◽  
Daniel R Altmann ◽  
Gerard Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relaxation Time ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
T1 Relaxation Time ◽  
Normal Appearing White Matter ◽  
T1 Relaxation ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

The pathological effects of multiple sclerosis are not confined to lesions; tissues that appear normal on conventional magnetic resonance imaging scans are also affected, albeit subtly. One imaging technique that has proven sensitive to such effects is T1-relaxation time measurement, with previous work demonstrating abnormalities in normal-appearing white matter and grey matter. In this work we investigated the evolution of T1-relaxation time changes in normal-appearing white matter and grey matter in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis. Three- and five-year follow-up data from 35 people with clinically early (a mean of 1.6 years from first clinical event) relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis and 15 healthy controls were analysed. T1-relaxation time histograms were extracted from normal-appearing white matter and grey matter, and mean, peak height and peak location values were estimated. T1-relaxation time peak height declined in the multiple sclerosis normal-appearing white matter and grey matter, but not the control group (rate difference p = 0.024 in normal-appearing white matter, in normal-appearing grey matter p = 0.038); other T1-relaxation time changes were not significantly different between groups. Changes in T1-relaxation time measures did not correlate with increases in brain T2-weighted lesion loads or Expanded Disability Status Scale scores. These results suggest that the processes underlying changes in normal-appearing white matter and grey matter T1-relaxation times are not immediately linked to white matter lesion formation, and may represent more diffuse but progressive sub-clinical pathology in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis.

Hypothalamic involvement assessed by T1 relaxation time in patients with relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 1442-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Zellini ◽  
Graham Niepel ◽  
Christopher R Tench ◽  
Cris S Constantinescu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relaxation Time ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
T1 Relaxation Time ◽  
T1 Relaxation ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Fatigue Severity ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Recent work in multiple sclerosis, focusing on neuropathological abnormalities, found a frequent and severe hypothalamic involvement. The possible clinical implications are disturbances in sleep and sexual activity, depression, memory impairment and fatigue. Despite this there are no magnetic resonance imaging studies focusing on in vivo hypothalamic pathology in multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging-detectable abnormalities related to pathological changes in the hypothalamus of patients with multiple sclerosis, and to subsequently explore the relationship with fatigue. We used T1 relaxation time as a sensitive measure of pathology. Using region of interest analysis, median T1 values in the hypothalamus were measured in 44 relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis patients and in 13 healthy controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale, and patients were divided in two subgroups, fatigued and non-fatigued, according to Fatigue Severity Scale scores. We found a significantly higher T1 relaxation time in the hypothalamus of multiple sclerosis patients compared with controls ( p = 0.027). There was a significant correlation between T1 values and fatigue severity (rho 0.437, p = 0.008), and median T1 values were different among the study groups. Our results show that pathological involvement of the hypothalamus in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis is detectable using magnetic resonance imaging, and that the pathology measured by quantitative T1 might reflect fatigue.

scholarly journals A voxel-based morphometry study of disease severity correlates in relapsing— remitting multiple sclerosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Prinster ◽  
M. Quarantelli ◽  
R. Lanzillo ◽  
G. Orefice ◽  
G. Vacca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Expanded Disability Status Scale ◽  
Lesion Load ◽  
Disability Status ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Previous studies have shown a preferential loss of grey matter in fronto-temporal regions in patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies of correlates of disease severity are more controversial, because some studies have suggested an association between sensorimotor cortex atrophy and Expanded Disability Status Scale score, while others did not find such a correlation. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation of regional loss of grey matter and white matter with indexes of clinical and radiological severity in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis, including the Expanded Disability Status Scale and lesion load. Correlations between Expanded Disability Status Scale, lesion load and disease duration were assessed in 128 patients with relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis (Expanded Disability Status Scale range 1.0—6.0) using optimized voxel-based morphometry. Bilateral loss of grey matter in sensorimotor cortices was correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale, and tissue loss also involved adjacent white matter, extending along pyramidal tracts to the brainstem. Increasing lesion load was correlated with loss of deep grey matter and white matter. No specific region of grey matter or white matter showed a significant correlation with disease duration. These findings support the hypothesis that motor neuron involvement plays a major role in the progression of physical disability. Lesion load accrual affects mainly highly interconnected subcortical structures, while disease duration has a less significant impact on brain atrophy, probably owing to the inter-subject heterogeneity of the clinical course of the disease.

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