Imaging disease progression

Abstract

Imaging disease progression in MS is far from straightforward. Markers that may be relevant in the prediction of conversion from RRMS to SPMS may not be of such use when trying to anticipate disability. MRI features that best correlate with current disability may change as the disease advances, and the optimal combination of measures may also differ between subtypes of MS. As such, it seems likely that a combination of clinical and imaging markers will be required to characterize the impact of MS at any given time and optimally predict its future course. Of the currently available MRI markers, brain and spinal cord atrophy measures seem most relevant in progressive MS.