PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Garaci, F.G.
AU  - Colangelo, V.
AU  - Ludovici, A.
AU  - Gaudiello, F.
AU  - Marziali, S.
AU  - Centonze, D.
AU  - Boffa, L.
AU  - Simonetti, G.
AU  - Floris, R.
TI  - A Diffusion Longitudinal MR Imaging Study in Normal-Appearing White Matter in Untreated Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
DP  - 2007 Mar 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 475--478
VI  - 28
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/28/3/475.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/28/3/475.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2007 Mar 01; 28
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate the hypothesis that water diffusion alterations are present in normal-appearing white matter of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to assess their change with time.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four subjects with clinically diagnosed RRMS, with disease duration of less than 12 months and an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score of <3.5, underwent a diffusion 3T MR imaging study. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps generated were compared with those of 18 control subjects. Eighteen of the 54 patients underwent MR imaging assessment at 3 and 6 months after baseline evaluation. Remitting patients were clinically and MR imaging stable for the 2 months before the study. All patients were drug-free for the 3 months before the study, and in the relapsing patients, the MR imaging was always performed before beginning treatment.RESULTS: Mean ADC values showed significant differences when relapsing, remitting, and control patients were compared. The relapsing or remitting phase showed significant difference when compared both with controls (P < .01) and between them (P < .05). Comparing mean ADC values of patients with clinical disability (EDSS <2 versus EDSS ≥2) also provided significant differences with the control group (P < .01). The data of patients showing a relapsing episode during the longitudinal part of the study showed a significant difference compared with data from their remitting phase (P < .01).CONCLUSION: Brain microstructural changes can be detected and correlate with clinical impairment during the stages of MS. These changes modify with time in the relapsing group.