MPRAGE-derived quantitative T 1 mapping to assess diffuse white matter alterations in multiple sclerosis
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by focal white matter (WM) lesions, but subtle damage also occurs in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). We developed a method to generate quantitative T 1 maps from MPRAGE (Magnetization Prepared Rapid Gradient Echo) images and evaluated its ability to detect NAWM abnormalities across different MS phenotypes. Methods T 1 maps were derived from MPRAGE using a theoretical signal model and compared with MP2RAGE (Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Gradient Echoes) T 1 values in four healthy volunteers. The method was then applied to 87 MS patients, divided into clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), and primary progressive MS (PPMS), with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. T 1 was measured in NAWM and lesions. Histogram analysis provided mean T 1 , full width at half maximum (FWHM), and skewness. Results In healthy volunteers, T 1 values matched MP2RAGE. In controls matched to the MS cohort, T 1 increased with age (r = 0.35, p < 0.05). CIS patients showed no significant differences in any metric. RRMS and PPMS patients showed unchanged mean NAWM T 1 but significantly different distributions, with higher FWHM (p<0.05) and skewness (p<0.001). An increase in T 1 values was observed in MS lesions compared to NAWM in all groups. Conclusion This study confirms the feasibility of deriving quantitative T 1 maps from standard MPRAGE, offering reliable information to facilitate MS monitoring without additional acquisitions.
Source: medRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160768516