Magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) is a quantitative measure of white matter (WM) integrity with inherent correction for B1 inhomogeneities and T1 relaxation. MTsat is sensitive to pathological changes in axonal myelin in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may predict clinical disability. MTsat within normal-appearing WM and WM hyperintensities was measured in 76 patients with recently diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS. After accounting for age, MTsat in normal-appearing WM, but not WM hyperintensities, predicted clinical disability (as assessed by Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite z-scores) in MS when central tendency and standard deviation were considered. This suggests MTsat is sensitive to early MS pathology.
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