RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Combining Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping with Automatic Zero Reference (QSM0) and Myelin Water Fraction Imaging to Quantify Iron-Related Myelin Damage in Chronic Active MS Lesions JF American Journal of Neuroradiology JO Am. J. Neuroradiol. FD American Society of Neuroradiology SP 303 OP 310 DO 10.3174/ajnr.A5482 VO 39 IS 2 A1 Yao, Y. A1 Nguyen, T.D. A1 Pandya, S. A1 Zhang, Y. A1 Hurtado Rúa, S. A1 Kovanlikaya, I. A1 Kuceyeski, A. A1 Liu, Z. A1 Wang, Y. A1 Gauthier, S.A. YR 2018 UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/39/2/303.abstract AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A hyperintense rim on susceptibility in chronic MS lesions is consistent with iron deposition, and the purpose of this study was to quantify iron-related myelin damage within these lesions as compared with those without rim.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients had 2 longitudinal quantitative susceptibility mapping with automatic zero reference scans with a mean interval of 28.9 ± 11.4 months. Myelin water fraction mapping by using fast acquisition with spiral trajectory and T2 prep was obtained at the second time point to measure myelin damage. Mixed-effects models were used to assess lesion quantitative susceptibility mapping and myelin water fraction values.RESULTS: Quantitative susceptibility mapping scans were on average 6.8 parts per billion higher in 116 rim-positive lesions compared with 441 rim-negative lesions (P < .001). All rim-positive lesions retained a hyperintense rim over time, with increasing quantitative susceptibility mapping values of both the rim and core regions (P < .001). Quantitative susceptibility mapping scans and myelin water fraction in rim-positive lesions decreased from rim to core, which is consistent with rim iron deposition. Whole lesion myelin water fractions for rim-positive and rim-negative lesions were 0.055 ± 0.07 and 0.066 ± 0.04, respectively. In the mixed-effects model, rim-positive lesions had on average 0.01 lower myelin water fraction compared with rim-negative lesions (P < .001). The volume of the rim at the initial quantitative susceptibility mapping scan was negatively associated with follow-up myelin water fraction (P < .01).CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative susceptibility mapping rim-positive lesions maintained a hyperintense rim, increased in susceptibility, and had more myelin damage compared with rim-negative lesions. Our results are consistent with the identification of chronic active MS lesions and may provide a target for therapeutic interventions to reduce myelin damage.FAST-T2fast acquisition with spiral trajectory and T2-prepGREgradient-echoMWFmyelin water fractionppbparts per billionQSMquantitative susceptibility mappingQSM0QSM with automatic uniform CSF zero referencerim−rim-negativerim+rim-positive