Magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) as a surrogate marker for disease heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease mostly affecting young adults and leading to significant physical and cognitive disability. From the clinical point of view it is a very heterogeneous disease, which means that the clinical evolution differs from patient to patient, and within one patient even from time to time. It is an autoimmune disease in which genetic as well as environmental factors affect susceptibility and possibly disease heterogeneity. Although some genetic and environmental risk and disease modifying factors are known, we are far from being able to predict disease course in MS. Therefore surrogate markers for disease heterogeneity would have a major impact on the clinician’s decisions during follow-up of these patients. In this project we use MTR as a quantitative imaging parameter that reflects vulnerability to demyelination and capacity for remyelination. Using clinical, genetic and imaging data we will investigate whether MTR is a surrogate marker for disease heterogeneity, and to what extent these results could be translated into personalized treatment strategies.