Cervical cord magnetization transfer ratio and clinical changes over 18 months in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
Magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) permits the quantitative estimation of cervical cord tissue damage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a single time-point MTR scan of the cervical cord is associated with short-term disease evolution in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS.


METHODS
Using a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with a tailored cervical cord phased array coil, fast short-tau inversion recovery (fast-STIR) and MTR scans were obtained from 14 untreated patients with RRMS at baseline. Cervical cord MTR histograms were derived. Over the 18-month follow-up period, relapse rate was measured and disability assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score.


RESULTS
Average cervical cord MTR was correlated with relapse rate (r= -0.56, P=0.037). A moderate correlation (r values ranging from -0.33 to -0.36) between baseline cervical cord MTR metrics and EDSS changes over 18 months was also noted, albeit statistical significance was not reached (P = 0.26 and 0.21, respectively) perhaps because of the relatively small sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a 'snapshot' MT MRI assessment of the cervical cord may detect cervical cord tissue changes associated with short-term disease evolution in RRMS.
Charil
A
A
Department of Neurology, Neuroimaging Research Unit, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Caputo
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D
Cavarretta
R
R
Sormani
M P
MP
Ferrante
P
P
Filippi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*