Longitudinal quantitative MRI changes in normal-appearing brain tissue of patients with multiple sclerosis

We explored the value of multiple longitudinal quantitative MRI (qMRI) measures in detecting microstructural changes occurring in normal-appearing tissue of patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). While no differences in qMRI longitudinal changes were measured between PwMS and healthy controls, progressive PwMS showed accelerated T1-relaxometry increase in normal-appearing tissue with respect to both healthy controls and relapsing-remitting PwMS, reflecting increased micro/macrostructural damage. In PwMS the rates of qMRI changes during follow-up were associated with the severity of clinical disability, with higher neurological impairment being associated with qMRI changes reflecting accelerated micro/macrostructural damage, demyelination, and axon/dendrite loss.