title: A longitudinal study of T1 hypointense lesions in relapsing MS: MSCRG trial of interferon beta-1a. Multiple Sclerosis Collaborative Research Group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T1 hypointense lesions (T1 black holes) are focal areas of relatively severe CNS tissue damage detected by MRI in patients with MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the natural history of T1 hypointense lesions in relapsing MS and the utility of T1 hypointense lesions as outcome measures in MS clinical trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  MR studies were from the Multiple Sclerosis Collaborative Research Group trial. Longitudinal results are reported in 80 placebo- and 80 interferon beta-1a (IFNbeta-1a)-treated patients with mild to moderate disability relapsing-remitting MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a small but significant correlation between T1 hypointense lesion volume and disability at baseline and on trial (r = 0.22, r = 0.28). In placebo patients there was a 29.2% increase in the mean volume of T1 hypointense lesions (median 124.5 mm3) over 2 years (p < 0.001 for change from baseline), as compared to an 11.8% increase (median 40 mm3) in the IFNbeta-1a-treated patients (change from baseline not significant). These treatment group comparisons did not quite reach significance. The most significant contributor to change in T1 hypointense lesions was the baseline number of enhancing lesions (model r2 = 0.554). Placebo patients with more active disease, defined by enhancing lesions at baseline, were the only group to show a significant increase in T1 hypointense lesion volume from baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of T1 hypointense lesions is strongly influenced by prior inflammatory disease activity, as indicated by enhancing lesions. These results suggest that treatment with once weekly IM IFNbeta-1a (30 mcg) slows the 2-year accumulation of these lesions in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology-MRI, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA. Jack.Simon@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lull
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rudick
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cookfair
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Herndon
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheeder
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Goodkin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simonian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lajaunie
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wende
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martens-Davidson
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kinkel
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Munschauer
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a