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Normal-appearing grey and white matter T1 abnormality in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal study

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

A Hadjiprocopis

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

D R Altmann

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

D T Chard

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

C M Griffin

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

W Rashid

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

G J Parker

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

P S Tofts

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

R Kapoor

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

A J Thompson

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK

D H Miller

NMR Research Unit, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK, d.miller{at}ion.ucl.ac.uk

Objective To investigate the presence and evolution of T₁ relaxation time abnormalities in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and grey matter (GM), early in the course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods Twenty-three patients with early relapsing-remitting MS and 14 healthy controls were imaged six monthly for up to three years. Mean follow-up was 26 months for MS patients and 24 months for controls. Dual-echo fast-spin echo and gradient-echo proton-density and T₁-weighted data sets (permitting the calculation of a T₁ map) were acquired in all subjects. GM and NAWM T₁ histograms were produced and a hierarchical regression model was used to investigate changes in T₁ over time.

Results At baseline, significant patient-control differences were seen, both in NAWM (P <0.001) and in GM (P =0.01). At follow-up, there was no evidence for a serial change in either mean T₁ or peak-location for either NAWM or GM. There was weak evidence for a decline in patient NAWM peak-height and also evidence for a decline in control GM peak-height.

Conclusion There are significant and persistent abnormalities of NAWM and GM T₁ in early relapsing-remitting MS. Further studies should address whether such T₁ measures have a role in prognosis or therapeutic monitoring.

Key Words: early MS • grey matter • longitudinal • multiple sclerosis • normal-appearing white matter • T1 relaxation time

This version was published on March 1, 2007

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 13, No. 2, 169-177 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458506070726


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