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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 20:1946-1950 (11 1999)
© 1999 American Society of Neuroradiology

ARTICLE

Serial Analysis of Magnetization-Transfer Histograms and Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Upen J. Patel^a, Robert I. Grossman^a, Michael D. Phillips^a, Jayaram K. Udupa^a, Joseph C. McGowan^a, Yukio Miki^a, Luogang Wei^a, Marcia Polansky^a, Mark A. van Buchem^a and Dennis Kolson^a

^a From the Department of Radiology, Florida Community Imaging Centers, Dunedin, FL (U.J.P.); the Departments of Radiology (R.I.G., M.D.P., J.K.U., J.C.McG., Y.M. L.W.) and Neurology (D.K.), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; the Department of Radiology, Leiden University Hospital, the Netherlands (M.A.vB.); and the Division of Biometrics, Allegheny University Health System, Philadelphia (M.P.).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Magnetization transfer ratio histogram peak height (MTR-HPH) has been shown to correlate with macroscopic and microscopic brain disease in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied the changes in MTR-HPH and in Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores over time in a group of patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

METHODS: Twenty adult patients with relapsing-remitting MS (four men and 16 women) were followed up for a period of 334 to 1313 days. In all, 86 MR imaging studies of the brain were obtained, and MTR-HPH was calculated for each MR examination by using a semiautomated technique. Changes in MTR-HPH were compared between patients over the study's duration. A neurologist specialized in the care of MS patients assessed the EDSS score for each patient as a measure of clinical disability.

RESULTS: Serial MR data showed a subtle but significant decline in MTR-HPH with time. No significant changes in EDSS scores were noted over the same period.

CONCLUSION: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS have a significant progressive decline in normalized MTR-HPH, which is independent of EDSS score. MTR-HPH measurements can be used to monitor subclinical disease in patients with relapsing-remitting MS over a short time frame of 1 to 4 years. This parameter might be applied in future therapeutic trials to assess its usefulness.