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York EN, Thrippleton MJ, Meijboom R, Hunt DPJ, Waldman AD. Quantitative magnetization transfer imaging in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac088. [PMID: 35652121 PMCID: PMC9149789 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin-sensitive MRI such as magnetization transfer imaging has been widely used in multiple sclerosis. The influence of methodology and differences in disease subtype on imaging findings is, however, not well established. Here, we systematically review magnetization transfer brain imaging findings in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. We examine how methodological differences, disease effects and their interaction influence magnetization transfer imaging measures. Articles published before 06/01/2021 were retrieved from online databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science) with search terms including 'magnetization transfer' and 'brain' for systematic review, according to a pre-defined protocol. Only studies that used human in vivo quantitative magnetization transfer imaging in adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (with or without healthy controls) were included. Additional data from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis subjects acquired in other studies comprising mixed disease subtypes were included in meta-analyses. Data including sample size, MRI acquisition protocol parameters, treatments and clinical findings were extracted and qualitatively synthesized. Where possible, effect sizes were calculated for meta-analyses to determine magnetization transfer (i) differences between patients and healthy controls; (ii) longitudinal change and (iii) relationships with clinical disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Eighty-six studies met inclusion criteria. MRI acquisition parameters varied widely, and were also underreported. The majority of studies examined the magnetization transfer ratio in white matter, but magnetization transfer metrics, brain regions examined and results were heterogeneous. The analysis demonstrated a risk of bias due to selective reporting and small sample sizes. The pooled random-effects meta-analysis across all brain compartments revealed magnetization transfer ratio was 1.17 per cent units (95% CI -1.42 to -0.91) lower in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis than healthy controls (z-value: -8.99, P < 0.001, 46 studies). Linear mixed-model analysis did not show a significant longitudinal change in magnetization transfer ratio across all brain regions [β = 0.12 (-0.56 to 0.80), t-value = 0.35, P = 0.724, 14 studies] or normal-appearing white matter alone [β = 0.037 (-0.14 to 0.22), t-value = 0.41, P = 0.68, eight studies]. There was a significant negative association between the magnetization transfer ratio and clinical disability, as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale [r = -0.32 (95% CI -0.46 to -0.17); z-value = -4.33, P < 0.001, 13 studies]. Evidence suggests that magnetization transfer imaging metrics are sensitive to pathological brain changes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, although effect sizes were small in comparison to inter-study variability. Recommendations include: better harmonized magnetization transfer acquisition protocols with detailed methodological reporting standards; larger, well-phenotyped cohorts, including healthy controls; and, further exploration of techniques such as magnetization transfer saturation or inhomogeneous magnetization transfer ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N. York
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Rozanna Meijboom
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - David P. J. Hunt
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic,
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam D. Waldman
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Cassiano MT, Lanzillo R, Alfano B, Costabile T, Comerci M, Prinster A, Moccia M, Megna R, Morra VB, Quarantelli M, Brunetti A. Voxel-based analysis of gray matter relaxation rates shows different correlation patterns for cognitive impairment and physical disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 26:102201. [PMID: 32062567 PMCID: PMC7025083 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regional analyses of markers of microstructural gray matter (GM) changes, including relaxation rates, have shown inconsistent correlations with physical and cognitive impairment in MS. OBJECTIVE To assess voxelwise the correlation of the R1 and R2 relaxation rates with the physical and cognitive impairment in MS. METHODS GM R1 and R2 relaxation rate maps were obtained in 241 relapsing-remitting MS patients by relaxometric segmentation of MRI studies. Correlations with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the percentage of impaired cognitive test (Brief Repeatable Battery and Stroop Test, available in 186 patients) were assessed voxelwise, including voxel GM content as nuisance covariate to remove the effect of atrophy on the correlations. RESULTS Extensive clusters of inverse correlation between EDSS and R2 were detected throughout the brain, while inverse correlations with R1 were mostly limited to perirolandic and supramarginal cortices. Cognitive impairment correlated negatively with R1, and to a lesser extent with R2, in the middle frontal, mesial temporal, midcingulate and medial parieto-occipital cortices. CONCLUSION In relapsing-remitting MS patients, GM microstructural changes correlate diffusely with physical disability, independent of atrophy, with a preferential role of the sensorimotor cortices. Neuronal damage in the limbic system and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices correlates with cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Cassiano
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Lanzillo
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Bruno Alfano
- Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, National Research Council, Via De Amicis, 95, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Costabile
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Comerci
- Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, National Research Council, Via De Amicis, 95, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Prinster
- Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, National Research Council, Via De Amicis, 95, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Marcello Moccia
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Megna
- Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, National Research Council, Via De Amicis, 95, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Brescia Morra
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Quarantelli
- Biostructure and Bioimaging Institute, National Research Council, Via De Amicis, 95, 80145 Naples, Italy.
| | - Arturo Brunetti
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Mainero C, Louapre C, Govindarajan ST, Giannì C, Nielsen AS, Cohen-Adad J, Sloane J, Kinkel RP. A gradient in cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis by in vivo quantitative 7 T imaging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 138:932-45. [PMID: 25681411 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We used a surface-based analysis of T2* relaxation rates at 7 T magnetic resonance imaging, which allows sampling quantitative T2* throughout the cortical width, to map in vivo the spatial distribution of intracortical pathology in multiple sclerosis. Ultra-high resolution quantitative T2* maps were obtained in 10 subjects with clinically isolated syndrome/early multiple sclerosis (≤ 3 years disease duration), 18 subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (≥ 4 years disease duration), 13 subjects with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, and in 17 age-matched healthy controls. Quantitative T2* maps were registered to anatomical cortical surfaces for sampling T2* at 25%, 50% and 75% depth from the pial surface. Differences in laminar quantitative T2* between each patient group and controls were assessed using general linear model (P < 0.05 corrected for multiple comparisons). In all 41 multiple sclerosis cases, we tested for associations between laminar quantitative T2*, neurological disability, Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, cortical thickness, and white matter lesions. In patients, we measured, T2* in intracortical lesions and in the intracortical portion of leukocortical lesions visually detected on 7 T scans. Cortical lesional T2* was compared with patients' normal-appearing cortical grey matter T2* (paired t-test) and with mean cortical T2* in controls (linear regression using age as nuisance factor). Subjects with multiple sclerosis exhibited relative to controls, independent from cortical thickness, significantly increased T2*, consistent with cortical myelin and iron loss. In early disease, T2* changes were focal and mainly confined at 25% depth, and in cortical sulci. In later disease stages T2* changes involved deeper cortical laminae, multiple cortical areas and gyri. In patients, T2* in intracortical and leukocortical lesions was increased compared with normal-appearing cortical grey matter (P < 10(-10) and P < 10(-7)), and mean cortical T2* in controls (P < 10(-5) and P < 10(-6)). In secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, T2* in normal-appearing cortical grey matter was significantly increased relative to controls (P < 0.001). Laminar T2* changes may, thus, result from cortical pathology within and outside focal cortical lesions. Neurological disability and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score correlated each with the degree of laminar quantitative T2* changes, independently from white matter lesions, the greatest association being at 25% depth, while they did not correlate with cortical thickness and volume. These findings demonstrate a gradient in the expression of cortical pathology throughout stages of multiple sclerosis, which was associated with worse disability and provides in vivo evidence for the existence of a cortical pathological process driven from the pial surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Mainero
- 1 A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 2 Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115,USA
| | - Céline Louapre
- 1 A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 2 Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115,USA
| | - Sindhuja T Govindarajan
- 1 A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Costanza Giannì
- 1 A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 2 Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115,USA
| | - A Scott Nielsen
- 2 Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115,USA 3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA 4 Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- 1 A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 5 Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jacob Sloane
- 2 Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115,USA 3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Revere P Kinkel
- 2 Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115,USA 3 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA 6 University of California San Diego, USA
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Samson RS, Cardoso MJ, Muhlert N, Sethi V, Wheeler-Kingshott CA, Ron M, Ourselin S, Miller DH, Chard DT. Investigation of outer cortical magnetisation transfer ratio abnormalities in multiple sclerosis clinical subgroups. Mult Scler 2014; 20:1322-30. [PMID: 24552746 DOI: 10.1177/1352458514522537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pathological abnormalities including demyelination and neuronal loss are reported in the outer cortex in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE We investigated for in vivo evidence of outer cortical abnormalities by measuring the magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) in MS patients of different subgroups. METHODS Forty-four relapsing-remitting (RR) (mean age 41.9 years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 2.0), 25 secondary progressive (SP) (54.1 years, EDSS 6.5) and 19 primary progressive (PP) (53.1 years, EDSS 6.0) MS patients and 35 healthy control subjects (mean age 39.2 years) were studied. Three-dimensional (3D) 1×1×1mm(3) T1-weighted images and MTR data were acquired. The cortex was segmented, then subdivided into outer and inner bands, and MTR values were calculated for each band. RESULTS In a pairwise analysis, mean outer cortical MTR was lower than mean inner cortical MTR in all MS groups and controls (p<0.001). Compared with controls, outer cortical MTR was decreased in SPMS (p<0.001) and RRMS (p<0.01), but not PPMS. Outer cortical MTR was lower in SPMS than PPMS (p<0.01) and RRMS (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Lower outer than inner cortical MTR in healthy controls may reflect differences in myelin content. The lowest outer cortical MTR was seen in SPMS and is consistent with more extensive outer cortical (including subpial) pathology, such as demyelination and neuronal loss, as observed in post-mortem studies of SPMS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuel J Cardoso
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Sciences, University College London, UK Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - Nils Muhlert
- NMR Research Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Varun Sethi
- NMR Research Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Maria Ron
- NMR Research Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Ourselin
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Sciences, University College London, UK Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - David H Miller
- NMR Research Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Declan T Chard
- NMR Research Unit, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UK
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