Characterization of Cortical Injury in Early MS Patients: a 7T MRI Study

Summary

The main aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence, the topography and the clinical counterpart of cortical lesions in patient included early after the first clinical episode of multiple sclerosis. A second aim is to assess the direct contribution of cortical lesions - independent of WM injury - on the diffuse grey matter damage.

Thirty MS patients will be included in the six months after the first clinical episode of multiple sclerosis for a monocentric transversal MRI study at 7T to assess cortical MS injury. Clinical (EDSS) and neuropsychological assessments will be performed in the population the same day of a multi-parametric MRI. MRI protocol is designed to increase the detection rate of CL using multiple contrasts at high isotropic resolution (600µm3) on a whole brain exploration. Thus, MRI acquisition will include MP2RAGE, T2\*, FLAIR and DIR as previously published but also recent MRI technique like FLAWS, focusing on the grey matter by attenuating the white matter and CSF signal. Finally, QSM sequences will be performed. QSM measures tissue magnetic susceptibility mostly influenced by iron, myelin and calcium content in the brain. Due to physical properties of the technique (bipolarity), we suppose that high resolution QSM will be more sensitive that previous used sequences to depict cortical lesions. Using this multi-contrast approach with relevant MRI sequence and with a high resolution whole brain exploration might improve the detection of CL in early MS.

Furthermore, MRI protocol allow us to estimate neuronal loss (T1 relaxation time), myelin and iron content (QSM and T2\* relaxation time) within and outside cortical lesions in GM.

The present study is an opportunity to assess cortical pathology in MS from the onset of the disease, allowing to a better understanding of its origins and its impact and disease severity. This study is a preliminary requirement to longitudinal studies to precisely depict the kinetic of cortical lesion accumulation and the links with disease aggravation.

Conditions

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Interventions

DEVICE

MRI 7T

MRI 7T

OTHER

TEST EDSS

EDSS - Expanded Disability Status Scale

OTHER

TEST MSFC

MSFC - Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• jean-olivier ARNAUD · Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-10-31

Primary Completion

2019-10-31

Completion

2020-03-31

Countries

• France

Study Locations