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Abstract #2055

Improved Identification of MS Disease-Relevant Changes in Gray and White Matter using Susceptibility-Based Ultra-High Field MRI

David A. Rudko 1,2 , Igor Solovey 2 , Joseph S. Gati 2 , Marcelo Kremenchutzky 3 , and Ravi S. Menon 2

1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, 2 Robarts Research Institute, Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, London, Ontario, Canada, 3 Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

Conventional MRI measures of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease status, using the number and location of lesions in white matter have not correlated well with clinical symptoms or demonstrated significant predictive power for understanding disease progression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quantitative susceptibility (QS) and apparent transverse relaxation rate (R 2 * ) mapping as surrogate biomarkers of clinically relevant, age-adjusted demyelination and iron deposition in MS. QS and R 2 * maps acquired using 7T gradient echo MRI identified demyelination and iron accumulation in MS that correlated strongly with clinical disability. Using this information may allow earlier administration of therapies and monitoring of MS pathology in-vivo.

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