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Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Changes Correlate in a Clinical Trial Monitoring Cyclosporine Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Author(s) -
Zhao Guo Jun,
Li David K. B.,
Wolinsky Jerry S.,
Koopmans Robert A.,
Mietlowski William,
Redekop William K.,
Riddehough Andrew,
Cover Keith,
Paty Donald W.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/jon1997711
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple sclerosis , magnetic resonance imaging , expanded disability status scale , clinical trial , lesion , correlation , radiology , nuclear medicine , surgery , geometry , mathematics , psychiatry
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to monitor cyclosporine therapy for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis in a multicenter clinical trial and an analysis was performed to determine whether there was a correlation between clinical changes and MRI changes. MRI was performed on 163 patients at the onset and completion of the 2–year study. Burden of disease (BOD, lesion load) was quantitated by a single observer using a computer program. Active lesions were also identified. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was determined every 3 months. MRI data did not show any effect of cyclosporine treatment on BOD progression (mean 24.5% increase/yr) or lesion activity. However, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the baseline total BOD value and the baseline EDSS score (r = 0.221, p = 0.005) and a positive correlation between the percent changes in BOD from baseline to exit and EDSS score (r = 0.186, p = 0.018). The study supports the concepts that MRI is a useful technique in monitoring therapeutic trials and that MRI is a direct measure of pathology.