Abstract #4049

Myelin water imaging provides evidence of long-term remyelination and neuroprotection in Alemtuzumab treated multiple sclerosis patients

Irene Margaret Vavasour¹, Cornelia Laule^1,2, Shannon H Kolind^1,3, Roger Tam¹, David KB Li¹, Alex L MacKay^1,4, and Anthony L Traboulsee³

¹Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, ²Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, ³Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, ⁴Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

To test the potential neuroprotective and reparative properties of alemtuzumab (a highly effective disease modifying therapy for relapsing remitting MS), we used myelin water imaging to measure myelination in MS patients treated with either alemtuzumab, interferon, or no treatment. NAWM MWF showed a steady 4% increase in alemtuzumab-treated subjects whereas MWF in subjects treated with interferon or without treatment decreased by 10% over 5 years. Myelin recovery following treatment with alemtuzumab supports previous clinical trial findings, provides understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying observed clinical improvement and demonstrates that MWF is a powerful biomarker for neuroprotection and repair in MS.

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