Magnetisation transfer ratio analysis of normal appearing white matter in patients with familial and sporadic multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess differences in magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) analysis of normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with familial multiple sclerosis (MS) and those with sporadic MS.


METHODS
10 patients with familial MS, 10 patients with sporadic MS, and 10 healthy subjects were included in the study. Groups were matched according to the sex, age, disease duration, type of disease, EDSS, and MRI T1 and T2 lesion load. Magnetisation transfer imaging (MTI) with and without saturation pulse were performed. On the MTR map 16 different regions of interest of normal appearing white matter were analyzed.


RESULTS
The mean MTR value of normal appearing white matter was significantly lower both in familial patients and those with sporadic MS compared with healthy subjects (33.8% v 46.4%; 38.6% v 46.4% respectively, p< 0.05). Additionally, patients with familial MS showed significantly lower mean MTR value than patients with sporadic MS (33.8% v 38.6%, p<0.05). There was also significant regional variation of MTR values between these two groups of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower and more widespread MTR abnormalities in patients with familial MS might indicate differences in the extent and nature of white matter pathology between familial and sporadic MS.
Siger-Zajdel
M
M
Department of Neurology, Medical Academy of Lodz, Poland.
Selmaj
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors