title: Magnetization transfer imaging in multiple sclerosis treated with alemtuzumab.
abstract: The magnetization transfer ratio reflects the integrity of tissue structure, including myelination and axonal density. Mean magnetization transfer ratio fell in 18 untreated patients with multiple sclerosis both in normal appearing grey (-0.25 pu/year, p < 0.001) and white matter (-0.12 pu/year, p = 0.004). Conversely, mean magnetization transfer ratio was stable in 20 alemtuzumab-treated patients (grey matter: -0.01 pu/year, p = 0.87; white matter: -0.02 pu/year, p = 0.51). The gradient difference in grey matter was 0.25 pu/year (p < 0.001) after age-adjustment. These data suggest that in multiple sclerosis alemtuzumab protects against tissue damage in normal-appearing grey matter, perhaps by preventing new lesion formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Level 6 A Block, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. tb253@medschl.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Button
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altmann
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tozer
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Kelvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Compston
authors.forename: Alasdair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coles
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000074323:Alemtuzumab