Temporal evolution of new T1-weighted hypo-intense lesions and central brain atrophy in patients with a first clinical demyelinating event treated with subcutaneous interferon β-1a.

Objective: Evaluate the effect of subcutaneous interferon β-1a (sc IFN β-1a) versus placebo on the evolution of T1-weighted MRI lesions and central brain atrophy in in patients with a first clinical demyelinating event (FCDE).

Methods: Post hoc analysis of baseline-to-24 month MRI data from patients with an FCDE who received sc IFN β-1a 44 μg once- (qw) or three-times-weekly (tiw), or placebo, in REFLEX. Patients were grouped according to treatment regimen or conversion to clinically definite MS (CDMS) status.

White Matter Diffusion Changes during the First Year of Natalizumab Treatment in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Natalizumab treatment strongly affects relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, possibly by restraining white matter damage. This study investigated changes in white matter diffusivity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis during their first year of natalizumab treatment by using diffusion tensor imaging.

Materials And Methods: The study included patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis initiating natalizumab at baseline (n = 22), patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis continuing interferon-β or glatiramer acetate (n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 12).

Enhanced axonal metabolism during early natalizumab treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: The considerable clinical effect of natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis might be explained by its possible beneficial effect on axonal functioning. In this longitudinal study, the effect of natalizumab on absolute concentrations of total N-acetylaspartate, a marker for neuronal integrity, and other brain metabolites is investigated in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis by using MR spectroscopic imaging.

Materials And Methods: In this explorative observational study, 25 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis initiating natalizumab treatment were included and scanned every 6 months for 18 months.

Longitudinal absolute metabolite quantification of white and gray matter regions in healthy controls using proton MR spectroscopic imaging.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality parameters, metabolite concentrations and concentration ratios, and to investigate the reproducibility of quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ((1)H-MRSI) of selected white and gray matter regions of healthy adults. 2D-quantitative short-TE (1)H-MRSI spectra were obtained at 1.5T from the healthy human brain.

Interferon beta-1b reduces black holes in a randomised trial of clinically isolated syndrome.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by inflammatory lesions of the central nervous system. Interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) has been shown to improve clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures for patients with MS.

Objective: To evaluate whether IFNB-1b in patients presenting with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) prevented persisting T1 hypointensities on MRI (persistent black holes (PBHs)).