title: Gadolinium enhanced MRI predicts clinical and MRI disease activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive power of baseline gadolinium (Gd) enhanced MRI in relation to subsequent clinical and MRI activity. Sixty eight patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis had a baseline Gd enhanced MRI and were followed up clinically and by monthly Gd enhanced MRI for six months. The occurrence of relapses during the follow up period was predicted by the presence of at least one enhancing lesion on the baseline MRI (P < 0.05). The number and volume of enhancing lesions at baseline were significantly associated with both enhancing lesions observed during the follow up period (P < 0.0001) and the accumulation of abnormality on T2 weighted images (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the presence of three or more enhancing lesions at baseline scan was consistently associated with the development of permanent abnormalities on T2 weighted images six months later. The study suggests that the number and volume of Gd enhancing lesions at a single examination are strong short term predictors of subsequent clinical and MRI activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koudriavtseva
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozzao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paolillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galgani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium