Distinct influence of different vascular risk factors on white matter brain lesions in multiple sclerosis

Advances in neuroimaging of multiple sclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize recent advancements in understanding multiple sclerosis (MS) pathophysiology, predicting disease course, and monitoring treatment responses using MRI.

RECENT FINDINGS

Paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) are highly specific to MS and clinically relevant. Detected from the earliest disease phases, PRLs aid in distinguishing MS from other conditions, improving diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, PRLs are associated with more severe disability and measures of brain damage and may predict disease progression. Similarly, slowly expanding lesions (SELs) are associated with more severe disability and predict a more severe disease course. Disease-modifying therapies have limited effectiveness in reducing PRLs or SELs. Choroid plexus (CP) enlargement is associated with structural brain damage and clinical disability and predicts disease evolution. Enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) suggest microangiopathic changes rather than direct MS-related inflammation. Glymphatic dysfunction, evaluated using diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space, emerges early in MS and correlates with disability, cognitive impairment, and structural brain damage. Aging and comorbidities exacerbate MS-related damage, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Emerging technologies, such as brain-age paradigms, aim to disentangle aging from MS-specific neurodegeneration.

SUMMARY

Advances in MRI have highlighted the clinical significance of chronic inflammation and glymphatic dysfunction as early contributors to MS progression as well as the interplay between aging, comorbidities and MS.

Dawson's finger radiological presentation of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in a young female: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the UK is among the highest in the world with prevalence in the north of Scotland presenting the peak of cases. Pathologically multiple sclerosis is regarded as multifocal areas of demyelination resulting in a spectrum of clinical manifestations, which pose diagnostic challenges. Dawson fingers are periventricular hyperintensities that that display high specificity for multiple sclerosis over all other demyelinating conditions. Intriguingly, they are also seen in cerebral small vessel diseasespectrum maladies.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this case report we explore the presentation of Dawson finger hyperintensities in the primary diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of a 26 year old white caucasian female with right-sided dysesthesia as the presenting complaint of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

CONCLUSION

We further assess the sensitivity and specificity of Dawsons fingers upon multiple sclerosis diagnosis as well as their implications in differentiation between a family of demyelinating conditions with similar presentations. Lastly, we highlight the interplay between vascular and neuronal integrity in multiple sclerosis progression as highlighted by imaging and biochemical pathophysiology.

The ageing central nervous system in multiple sclerosis: the imaging perspective

The interaction between ageing and multiple sclerosis is complex and carries significant implications for patient care. Managing multiple sclerosis effectively requires an understanding of how ageing and multiple sclerosis impact brain structure and function. Ageing inherently induces brain changes, including reduced plasticity, diminished grey matter volume, and ischaemic lesion accumulation. When combined with multiple sclerosis pathology, these age-related alterations may worsen clinical disability. Ageing may also influence the response of multiple sclerosis patients to therapies and/or their side effects, highlighting the importance of adjusted treatment considerations. MRI is highly sensitive to age- and multiple sclerosis-related processes. Accordingly, MRI can provide insights into the relationship between ageing and multiple sclerosis, enabling a better understanding of their pathophysiological interplay and informing treatment selection. This review summarizes current knowledge on the immunopathological and MRI aspects of ageing in the CNS in the context of multiple sclerosis. Starting from immunosenescence, ageing-related pathological mechanisms and specific features like enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces, this review then explores clinical aspects, including late-onset multiple sclerosis, the influence of age on diagnostic criteria, and comorbidity effects on imaging features. The role of MRI in understanding neurodegeneration, iron dynamics and myelin changes influenced by ageing and how MRI can contribute to defining treatment effects in ageing multiple sclerosis patients, are also discussed.

Current and future role of MRI in the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple sclerosis

In the majority of cases, multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by reversible episodes of neurological dysfunction, often followed by irreversible clinical disability. Accurate diagnostic criteria and prognostic markers are critical to enable early diagnosis and correctly identify patients with MS at increased risk of disease progression. The 2017 McDonald diagnostic criteria, which include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a fundamental paraclinical tool, show high sensitivity and accuracy for the diagnosis of MS allowing early diagnosis and treatment. However, their inappropriate application, especially in the context of atypical clinical presentations, may increase the risk of misdiagnosis. To further improve the diagnostic process, novel imaging markers are emerging, but rigorous validation and standardization is still needed before they can be incorporated into clinical practice. This Series article discusses the current role of MRI in the diagnosis and prognosis of MS, while examining promising MRI markers, which could serve as reliable predictors of subsequent disease progression, helping to optimize the management of individual patients with MS. We also explore the potential of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and automated quantification tools, to support clinicians in the management of patients. Yet, to ensure consistency and improvement in the use of MRI in MS diagnosis and patient follow-up, it is essential that standardized brain and spinal cord MRI protocols are applied, and that interpretation of results is performed by qualified (neuro)radiologists in all countries.

The Impact of Aging on Multiple Sclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Age is one of the most important factors in determining MS phenotype. This review provides an overview of how age influences MS clinical characteristics, pathology, and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

New methods for measuring aging have improved our understanding of the aging process in MS. New studies have characterized the molecular and cellular composition of chronic active or smoldering plaques in MS. These lesions are important contributors to disability progression in MS. These studies highlight the important role of immunosenescence and the innate immune system in sustaining chronic inflammation. Given these changes in immune function, several studies have assessed optimal treatment strategies in aging individuals with MS. MS phenotype is intimately linked with chronologic age and immunosenescence. While there are many unanswered questions, there has been much progress in understanding this relationship which may lead to more effective treatments for progressive disease.

The effect of smoking on MRI lesion resolution in NMOSD-AQP4 and MOGAD

BACKGROUND

The effect of smoking on the resolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders with aquaporin-4 positive antibody (NMOSD-AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) has not been studied before.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the effect of smoking on lesion resolution in MRI and assess its correlation with clinical recovery after a relapse.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study including NMOSD-AQP4 and MOGAD patients with acute and follow-up MRI scans. We collected demographic, clinical, imaging and smoking data. Logistic regression models were fitted to predict the effect of smoking on lesion resolution and to assess whether clinical recovery was associated with MRI lesion resolution.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients were included (57 with NMOSD-AQP4 and 48 with MOGAD). Current and past smoking was associated with a higher risk of persistent lesions in NMOSD-AQP4 and MOGAD (risk ratio (RR) = 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.5-4.7, p < 0.001). Additionally, the presence of lesion resolution was associated with better clinical recovery (RR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.7-2.2, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Smoking is associated with worse MRI lesion resolution in patients with NMOSD-AQP4 and MOGAD, and lesion resolution correlates with clinical recovery. Our findings suggest a detrimental effect of smoking in inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

Significant retinal microvascular impairments in multiple sclerosis assessed through optical coherence tomography angiography

PURPOSE

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with different ocular disorders. This study aimed to investigate the retinal microvascular changes detected by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in eyes with MS with or without a history of optic neuritis (ON).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases on September 26, 2021 for articles focused on OCTA manifestations in the eyes of MS patients compared with healthy controls. RevMan Manager (v.5.4) and Stata (v.14.1) were used to analyze the main differences and publication risks. Weighted mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for continuous estimates. This study also included subgroup analysis between three groups: eyes with multiple sclerosis and with optic neuritis (MSON); eyes with multiple sclerosis and without optic neuritis (MSNON); and healthy controls.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies with a total of 1803 eyes were identified, including 957 eyes with MS and 846 eyes of healthy controls. The vessel density of the MS eyes decreased significantly in most areas of the radial peripapillary capillary. A marked reduction in the macular superficial capillary plexus of MS eyes regardless of ON history was also confirmed.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that MS patients demonstrated significant retinal microvasculature impairment regardless of ON history, compared to healthy controls. Retinal vessel density attenuation detected by OCTA may serve as a reliable early marker of MS.

Present and future of the diagnostic work-up of multiple sclerosis: the imaging perspective

In recent years, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnostic work-up of multiple sclerosis (MS) has evolved considerably. The 2017 McDonald criteria show high sensitivity and accuracy in predicting a second clinical attack in patients with a typical clinically isolated syndrome and allow an earlier diagnosis of MS. They have been validated, are evidence-based, simplify the clinical use of MRI criteria and improve MS patients' management. However, to limit the risk of misdiagnosis, they should be applied by expert clinicians only after the careful exclusion of alternative diagnoses. Recently, new MRI markers have been proposed to improve diagnostic specificity for MS and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. The central vein sign and chronic active lesions (i.e., paramagnetic rim lesions) may increase the specificity of MS diagnostic criteria, but further effort is necessary to validate and standardize their assessment before implementing them in the clinical setting. The feasibility of subpial demyelination assessment and the clinical relevance of leptomeningeal enhancement evaluation in the diagnostic work-up of MS appear more limited. Artificial intelligence tools may capture MRI attributes that are beyond the human perception, and, in the future, artificial intelligence may complement human assessment to further ameliorate the diagnostic work-up and patients' classification. However, guidelines that ensure reliability, interpretability, and validity of findings obtained from artificial intelligence approaches are still needed to implement them in the clinical scenario. This review provides a summary of the most recent updates regarding the application of MRI for the diagnosis of MS.

Phenotypic and genetic associations of quantitative magnetic susceptibility in UK Biobank brain imaging

A key aim in epidemiological neuroscience is identification of markers to assess brain health and monitor therapeutic interventions. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is an emerging magnetic resonance imaging technique that measures tissue magnetic susceptibility and has been shown to detect pathological changes in tissue iron, myelin and calcification. We present an open resource of QSM-based imaging measures of multiple brain structures in 35,273 individuals from the UK Biobank prospective epidemiological study. We identify statistically significant associations of 251 phenotypes with magnetic susceptibility that include body iron, disease, diet and alcohol consumption. Genome-wide associations relate magnetic susceptibility to 76 replicating clusters of genetic variants with biological functions involving iron, calcium, myelin and extracellular matrix. These patterns of associations include relationships that are unique to QSM, in particular being complementary to T2* signal decay time measures. These new imaging phenotypes are being integrated into the core UK Biobank measures provided to researchers worldwide, creating the potential to discover new, non-invasive markers of brain health.

Central Vein Sign Profile of Newly Developing Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The central vein sign (CVS), a central linear hypointensity within lesions on T2*-weighted imaging, has been established as a sensitive and specific biomarker for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the CVS has not yet been comprehensively studied in newly developing MS lesions. We aimed to identify the CVS profiles of new white matter lesions in patients with MS followed over time and investigate demographic and clinical risk factors associated with new CVS+ or CVS- lesion development.

METHODS

In this retrospective longitudinal cohort study, adults from the NIH MS Natural History Study were considered for inclusion. Participants with new T2 or enhancing lesions were identified through review of the radiology report and/or longitudinal subtraction imaging. Each new lesion was evaluated for the CVS. Clinical characteristics were identified through chart review.

RESULTS

A total of 153 adults (95 relapsing-remitting MS, 27 secondary progressive MS, 16 primary progressive MS, 5 clinically isolated syndrome, and 10 healthy; 67% female) were included. Of this cohort, 96 had at least 1 new T2 or contrast-enhancing lesion during median 3.1 years (Q1-Q3: 0.7-6.3) of follow-up; lesions eligible for CVS evaluation were found in 62 (65%). Of 233 new CVS-eligible lesions, 159 (68%) were CVS+, with 30 (48%) individuals having only CVS+, 12 (19%) only CVS-, and 20 (32%) both CVS+ and CVS- lesions. In gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesions, the CVS+ percentage increased from 102/152 (67%) at the first time point where the lesion was observed, to 92/114 (82%) after a median follow-up of 2.8 years. Younger age (OR = 0.5 per 10-year increase, 95% CI = 0.3-0.8) and higher CVS+ percentage at baseline (OR = 1.4 per 10% increase, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9) were associated with increased likelihood of new CVS+ lesion development.

DISCUSSION

In a cohort of adults with MS followed over a median duration of 3 years, most newly developing T2 or enhancing lesions were CVS+ (68%), and nearly half (48%) developed new CVS+ lesions only. Importantly, the effects of edema and T2 signal changes can obscure small veins in Gd+ lesions; therefore, caution and follow-up is necessary when determining their CVS status.

TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Clinical trial registration number NCT00001248.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class III evidence that younger age and higher CVS+ percentage at baseline are associated with new CVS+ lesion development.

Smoking, cardiovascular risk factors and LRP2 gene variation: Associations with disease severity, cognitive function and brain structure in primary progressive multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Smoking, cardiovascular risk factors, and genetic factors can have adverse effects in MS.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if smoking after disease onset, cardiovascular risk factors, and genetic variants influence primary progressive MS (PPMS).

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study, smoking habits, Framingham Risk Score (FRS), genetic variants, including the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2) SNP rs12988804 and MRI were collected in 60 PPMS trial participants. Disability and cognition were assessed with the Age-Related Multiple Sclerosis Severity (ARMSS) score, the Progressive-Onset MS Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS.

RESULTS

Smoking after PPMS onset was significantly associated with higher ARMSS (95% CI 0.8-2.4, p = 0.00016) statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Lower magnetization transfer ratio in lesions was also significantly associated with smoking after onset of PPMS after correction (95% CI -0.9--4.4, p = 0.0035). Pack-years in people who smoked after onset was likewise significantly associated with higher ARMSS score (b = 0.06 95% CI 0.02-0.09, p = 0.0021) as well as lower Symbol Digit Modalities Test scores (b = -0.40; 95% CI -0.66--0.13, p = 0.0037), both statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. The LRP2 risk allele was associated with decreased performance on the California Verbal Learning Test 2 after correction (CC vs. CT+TT 95% CI -14.2--3.4, p = 0.0018).

CONCLUSION

If validated, these findings suggest that intervention regarding smoking may be beneficial in PPMS. If confirmed, assessment of the LRP2 gene variant may aid in the understanding of underlying pathological mechanisms in PPMS.

The characteristics and risk factors of in-stent restenosis in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention: what can we do

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common treatment for patients with coronary heart disease, and intra-stent restenosis (ISR) is a serious complication after PCI. It's necessary to identify the potential risk factors to provide evidence for the prevention of ISR.

METHODS

The patients who underwent coronary angiography 1 year after PCI in our hospital from January 2017 to May 2019 were selected. The characteristics and results of clinical examination of ISR and no-ISR patients were compared, Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 209 patients were included, the incidence of ISR after PCI was 30.62%. There were significant differences on the hypertension, diabetes, number of coronary artery lesions, reasons for stent implantation, the diameter of stent, the length of stent and stent position between ISR group and no-ISR patients (all p < 0.05). The LDL-C in ISR groups was significantly higher than that of no-ISR group (p = 0.048), there were no significant differences between two groups in FPG, TG, TC, HDL-C, Apo A1, Apo B, LP-a and glycated haemoglobin (all p > 0.05). The hypertension (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.12-9.34), diabetes (OR 5.29, 95% CI 1.25-9.01), number of coronary artery lesions ≥ 2 (OR 4.84, 95% CI 1.21-9.55), LDL-C ≥ 1.9 mmol/L (OR 5.93, 95% CI 2.29-10.01), unstable angina (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.20-4.55), left anterior descending artery (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.73-7.58), diameter of stent ≥ 3 mm (OR 5.42, 95% CI 1.24-10.84), the length of stent > 20 mm (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.19-5.22) were the independent risk factor for ISR (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to take preventive measures against these risk factors to reduce ISR, and studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up on this issue are needed in the future.

The Framingham cardiovascular risk score and 5-year progression of multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities can affect the prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The Framingham risk score is an algorithm that can estimate the 10-year risk of developing macrovascular disease. Our objectives were to evaluate the possible association between the Framingham risk score at baseline and MS relapses, disability, and disease-modifying therapy (DMT) choices over a 5-year follow-up.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study including 251 MS subjects. At baseline, we calculated the Framingham risk score considering the following variables: age, sex, diabetes, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index. MS outcomes including relapses, disability, and treatments were collected over 5 years. Cox proportional regression models were employed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

A one-point increase in the Framingham risk score was associated with 31% higher risk of relapse (HR = 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.68), 19% higher risk of reaching of EDSS 6.0 (HR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.05, 3.01), and 62% higher risk of DMT escalation (HR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.22, 3.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher cardiovascular risk was associated with higher risk of relapses, disability, and DMT escalation in MS. Early identification, correction, and treatment of cardiovascular comorbidities should be carefully considered within MS management.

Comorbidity in Multiple Sclerosis

Comorbidities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has become an area of increasing interest in the recent years. A comorbidity is defined as any additional disease that coexists in an individual with a given index disease and that is not an obvious complication of the index disease. The aim of this review is to describe the current evidence regarding the range of comorbidities in the population with MS reported in different countries and the current knowledge about the influence of comorbidities on the clinical features and therapeutic challenges in MS. Certain comorbidities are more prevalent in people with MS such as depression, anxiety, cerebro- and cardiovascular diseases, and certain autoimmune disorders such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. A previous perception of a trend toward a lower overall risk of cancer in patients with MS appears to be challenged, but there is no evidence on any higher occurrence of malignancies in the population with MS. Comorbidities may modify the clinical presentation of MS, and have implications for treatment choice, adherence, and outcome. Several comorbid conditions are associated with increased disability progression, including diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Comorbidities are common in MS from the time of diagnosis and may account for some of the heterogeneity observed in MS, including diagnostic delay, clinical presentation, degree of disability progression, rate of health care utilization, working ability, employment status, and quality of life. Coexisting diseases and polypharmacy increase the complexity of patient management and poses major challenges, particularly with the increasing number of immunosuppressive disease-modifying therapies.

The role of pontine lesion location in differentiating multiple sclerosis from vascular risk factor-related small vessel disease

Background:

Differentiating multiple sclerosis (MS) from vascular risk factor (VRF)-small vessel disease (SVD) can be challenging.

Objective and Methods:

In order to determine whether or not pontine lesion location is a useful discriminator of MS and VRF-SVD, we classified pontine lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as central or peripheral in 93 MS cases without VRF, 108 MS patients with VRF and 43 non-MS cases with VRF.

Results:

MS without VRF were more likely to have peripheral pons lesions (31.2%, 29/93) than non-MS with VRF (0%, 0/43) (Exp(B) = 29.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.98, 448.3); p = 0.014) but there were no significant differences regarding central pons lesions between MS without VRF (5.4%, 5/93) and non-MS with VRF patients (16.3%, 7/43) (Exp(B) = 0.89; 95% CI = (0.2, 3.94); p = 0.87). The presence of peripheral pons lesions discriminated between MS and VRF-SVD with 100% (95% CI = (91.8, 100)) specificity. The proportion of peripheral pons lesions in MS with VRF (30.5%, 33/108) was similar to that seen in MS without VRF (31.2%, 29/93, p = 0.99). Central lesions occurred in similar frequency in MS with VRF (8.3%, 9/108) and non-MS with VRF (16.3%, 7/43, p = 0.15).

Conclusion:

Peripheral pons lesion location is a good discriminator of MS from vascular lesions.

The central vein sign in multiple sclerosis patients with vascular comorbidities

Background:

The central vein sign (CVS) is an imaging biomarker able to differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) from other conditions causing similar appearance lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, the impact of vascular risk factors (VRFs) for CSVD on the percentage of CVS positive (CVS+) lesions in MS has never been evaluated.

Objective:

To investigate the association between different VRFs and the percentage of CVS+ lesions in MS.

Methods:

In 50 MS patients, 3T brain MRIs (including high-resolution 3-dimensional T2*-weighted images) were analyzed for the presence of the CVS and MRI markers of CSVD. A backward stepwise regression model was used to predict the combined predictive effect of VRF (i.e. age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, ever-smoking, and hypercholesterolemia) and MRI markers of CSVD on the CVS.

Results:

The median frequency of CVS+ lesions was 71% (range: 35%–100%). In univariate analysis, age ( p < 0.0001), hypertension ( p < 0.001), diabetes ( p < 0.01), obesity ( p < 0.01), smoking ( p < 0.05), and the presence of enlarged-perivascular-spaces on MRI ( p < 0.005) were all associated with a lower percentage of CVS+ lesions. The stepwise regression model showed that age and arterial hypertension were both associated with the percentage of CVS+ lesions in MS (adjusted R2 = 0.46; p < 0.0001 and p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion:

The proportion of CVS+ lesions significantly decreases in older and hypertensive MS patients. Although this study was conducted in patients with an already established MS diagnosis, the diagnostic yield of the previously proposed 35% CVS proportion-based diagnostic threshold appears to be not affected. Overall these results suggest that the presence of VRF for CSVD should be taken into account during the CVS assessment.