Magnetization transfer ratio abnormalities reflect clinically relevant grey matter damage in multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
In multiple sclerosis, grey matter (GM) damage appears more clinically relevant than either white matter damage or lesion load.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated if normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and grey matter tissue changes assessed by magnetization transfer ratio were associated with long-term disability.


METHODS
Sixty-nine people were assessed 20 years after presentation with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) [28 still CIS, 31 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, 10 secondary progressive multiple sclerosis], along with 19 healthy subjects. Mean magnetization transfer ratio, peak height (PH) and peak location of the normalized magnetization transfer ratio histograms were determined in NAWM and grey matter, as well as, white matter and GM Fraction (GMF) and T(2)-weighted lesion load.


RESULTS
Median expanded disability status scale for multiple sclerosis patients was 2.5 (range 1-8). GM-PH, and less so, NAWM mean and peak location, were lower in multiple sclerosis patients (P = 0.009) versus controls, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis versus CIS (P = 0.008) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis versus relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (P = 0.002). GM-PH (as well as GMF) correlated with expanded disability status scale (r(s) = -0.49; P = 0.001) and multiple sclerosis functional score (r(s) = 0.51; P = 0.001). GM-PH independently predicted disability with similar strength to the associations of GMF with clinical measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Grey matter damage was related to long-term disability in multiple sclerosis cohort with a relatively low median expanded disability status scale. Markers of intrinsic grey matter damage (magnetization transfer ratio) and tissue loss offer clinically relevant information in multiple sclerosis.
Fisniku
L K
LK
NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. l.fisniku@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Altmann
D R
DR
Cercignani
M
M
Tozer
D J
DJ
Chard
D T
DT
Jackson
J S
JS
Miszkiel
K A
KA
Schmierer
K
K
Thompson
A J
AJ
Miller
D H
DH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000473:pathology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000473:pathology*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis