Ya-Ou Liu, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Helmut Butzkueven, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Scott Kolbe, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kuncheng Li MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess lesion evolution using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from serially acquired scans from 22 patients with MS.

Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured from 13 suitable plaques from five patients and carefully matched regions of contra-lateral normal appearing white matter (NAWM). Measurement times were on average: five and one month prior to,during, and one and two months post gadolinium-enhancement.

A significant increase in MD (+7.25%) but no change in FA was observed in white matter areas that exhibited enhancement five months later. The pre-lesional MD increase significantly correlated (R = 0.73) with MD increase two months subsequent to enhancement but not MD increase during enhancement (R = 0.11)

These results suggest that MD is sensitive to tissue changes that precede blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown by at least five months and that MD assessments may predict injury following BBB restoration.

This study helped reveal important novel information regarding the pathogenesis of MS lesions, and importantly could inform future trial protocols.

Liu, Y, Butzkueven, H, Kolbe, S, Li, K, Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Acute Inflammatory Lesion Evolution in Multiple Sclerosis.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11006459.html