In vivo quantitative whole-brain T sub(1) rho MRI of multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of magnetic resonance imaging 2015-12, Vol.42 (6), p.1623-1630
• Main Authors: Gonyea, Jay V, Watts, Richard, Applebee, Angela, Andrews, Trevor, Hipko, Scott, Nickerson, Joshua P, Thornton, Lindsay, Filippi, Christopher G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1053-1807; 1522-2586
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.24954

Background To apply quantitative whole-brain T sub(1)-rho (T sub(1 rho )) and T sub(2) imaging to the detection and quantification of brain changes resulting from multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods Twenty-three MS patients with clinically isolated syndrome (10) and relapsing remitting MS (13) phenotypes, compared with 24 age-matched healthy controls were imaged at 3 Tesla. An axial T sub(1 rho )-weighted three-dimensional turbo spin echo sequence with a variable flip angle and fluid suppression was used. Spin-lock times of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 ms were used. Corresponding T sub(2) maps were also acquired. Results Whole brain white matter (WM) T sub(1 rho ) maps were elevated compared with controls (P = 0.002). WM lesion T sub(1 rho ) and T sub(2) values were highly correlated (r = 0.83), but T sub(1 rho ) demonstrated 25% better contrast to noise ratio (P < 0.001). WM lesion T sub(1 rho ) correlated with disease duration. Gray matter T sub(1 rho ) was negatively correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, r = -0.45, P = 0.03. Normal appearing gray matter and cortical gray matter lesions were negatively correlated on T sub(1 rho ), but not on T sub(2) (r sub(T1 rho ) = -0.63, p sub(T1 rho ) = 0.03; r sub(T2) = -0.17, p sub(T2) = 0.6). Conclusion T sub(1 rho ) MRI demonstrates enhanced lesion contrast compared with T sub(2), and in some cases may provide complementary information. T sub(1 rho ) may provide a useful measure of demyelinating processes in MS. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2015; 42:1623-1630.