PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Patel, Upen J.
AU  - Grossman, Robert I.
AU  - Phillips, Michael D.
AU  - Udupa, Jayaram K.
AU  - McGowan, Joseph C.
AU  - Miki, Yukio
AU  - Wei, Luogang
AU  - Polansky, Marcia
AU  - Buchem, Mark A. van
AU  - Kolson, Dennis
TI  - Serial Analysis of Magnetization-Transfer Histograms and Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
DP  - 1999 Nov 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1946--1950
VI  - 20
IP  - 10
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/10/1946.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/10/1946.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1999 Nov 01; 20
AB  - 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.