Differences between relapsing-remitting and chronic progressive multiple sclerosis as determined with quantitative MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cross-sectional relationships among multiple quantitative brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging measurements in patients with relapsing-remitting versus chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with MS (relapsing-remitting, 26, chronic progressive, 12) were examined. Lesion volume on T2-weighted MR images, contrast material-enhancing lesion volume, percentage of brain parenchymal volume (brain volume/[brain volume + cerebrospinal fluid volume), and magnetization transfer ratio histogram peak height for the whole brain were calculated.


RESULTS
Significant negative correlation was noted between volume on T2-weighted images and magnetization transfer ratio histogram peak height for both the relapsing-remitting and chronic progressive groups (P < .001 for both). A positive correlation was demonstrated for lesion volume on T2-weighted images and enhancing lesion volume in the relapsing-remitting group (P < .01) but not in the chronic progressive group. Negative correlations were demonstrated for enhancing lesion volume and magnetization transfer ratio histogram peak height (P = .02), for Expanded Disability Status Scale score and magnetization transfer histogram peak height (P = .02), and for Expanded Disability Status Scale score and percentage of brain parenchymal volume in the relapsing-remitting group (P = .004) but not in the chronic progressive group.


CONCLUSIONS
The cross-sectional relationships among multiple quantitative brain MR imaging measurements are different between relapsing-remitting and chronic progressive MS.
Miki
Y
Y
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-4283, USA.
Grossman
R I
RI
Udupa
J K
JK
van Buchem
M A
MA
Wei
L
L
Phillips
M D
MD
Patel
U
U
McGowan
J C
JC
Kolson
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA