Neurol. praxi. 2012;13(6):320-324

The importance of magnetic resonance imaging in monitoring of disease activity

MUDr.Da na Horáková, Ph.D.¹, doc.MUDr.Manuela Vaněčková, Ph.D.²

¹ Neurologická klinika a Centrum klinických neurověd, 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

² Oddělení MR, Radiodiagnostická klinika, 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

of multiple sclerosis – a clinical neurologist insight

There has been a notable progress in research of multiple sclerosis (MS) during the last 30 years. The most important result of this effort

has been the discovery of new, more effective drugs. These drugs have on one hand brought great hope, but on the other hand they

have created new demands in approaching individual treatment. The focal question is – which drugs to use? When? And for whom? The

main reason for that is a high variability of the disease, which demands very thorough monitoring of the disease in individual patients.

Nowadays magnetic resonance imaging is the most frequently used biomarker. It helps in a diagnostic process, prognosis, and disease

monitoring. New diagnostic criteria from 2011 enable us to confirm the diagnosis of MS from the first MRI examination, which significantly

shortens the time before starting treatment. After treatment has started, we recommend to continue with a quantitative MRI

protocol that shows, even in a routine practice, not only quantification of lesions, but also total and regional brain atrophy which better

reflects the neurodegenerative processes.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis, magnetic resonance imaging, disease activity, brain atrophy, biomarker

Published: December 1, 2012  Show citation