%0 Journal Article %A 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 Dennis Kolson %T Serial Analysis of Magnetization-Transfer Histograms and Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis %D 1999 %J American Journal of Neuroradiology %P 1946-1950 %V 20 %N 10 %X 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. %U https://www.ajnr.org/content/ajnr/20/10/1946.full.pdf