Analysis of Lesions and Longitudinal Study of Structural Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Using Synthetic and Quantitative MRI

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20896
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0902:General internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Nakaya Moto 順天堂大学, 医学部, 非常勤助手 (70965110)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 多発性硬化症 / Synthetic MRI / ミエリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we performed lesion analysis and longitudinal examination of brain structure changes in multiple sclerosis using 3D synthetic MRI. We compared myelin maps from synthetic MRI with other myelin imaging techniques, evaluated periventricular myelin gradients in MS, and conducted longitudinal analyses in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS. The results showed: 1) Strong correlations between myelin volume fraction and inhomogeneous magnetization transfer, indicating they measure different aspects of myelin. 2) Periventricular myelin loss gradients in MS correlate with clinical severity. 3) Longitudinal changes in myelin and axonal damage can be assessed with synthetic MRI, potentially serving as imaging biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment evaluation in MS. These findings provide valuable insights into MS pathology and establish the utility of synthetic MRI for elucidating disease mechanisms and clinical management.

Free Research Field

放射線科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、3D synthetic MRIを用いて多発性硬化症の病変解析と脳神経構造変化の縦断的検討を行った。その結果、ミエリンマップと他のミエリン画像との比較で、synthetic MRIのミエリンマップの有用性や多発性硬化症における脳室周囲勾配のミエリン量の評価が有用であることがわかった。本研究の学術的意義は、synthetic MRIによる多発性硬化症の病態解明に新たな手法を提示したことである。社会的意義としては、本研究の成果が多発性硬化症の診断・治療の発展に寄与することが期待される点にある。