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In multiple sclerosis (MS), the aim of therapies is to prevent the accumulation of irreversible disability. This is difficult to assess given the short time course of clinical trials. MRI markers and relapses are often used as surrogate of disability in MS studies, but their validity remains controversial. We sought to validate, at the individual patient level, MRI lesions and relapses as surrogates for disability progression over the course of MS trials.

The aim of the study was to assess different outcome measures in a cohort of ambulant boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) over 12 months in order to establish the spectrum of possible changes in relation to age and steroid treatment.

To generate and validate new MRI diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS) taking into account not only white matter lesions but also intracortical lesions (ICLs).

To evaluate whether the effects on potential surrogate endpoints, such as MRI markers and relapses, observed in trials of experimental treatments are able to predict the effects of these treatments on disability progression as defined in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) trials.

To assess the time course of brain atrophy and the difference across clinical subtypes in multiple sclerosis (MS).

To assess the magnitude of the correlations between disability and composite MRI scores in patients with MS.

The measurement errors associated with two techniques for brain atrophy assessment in multiple sclerosis (MS) were estimated. The measurement error of a semiautomated, nonnormalized technique with partial brain coverage was about twofold higher than that of a fully automated, normalized technique with full brain coverage (Structural Image Evaluation of Normalized Atrophy software SIENA). As shown by the analysis of data from a clinical trial of glatiramer acetate, the use of SIENA increases the study power to detect a treatment effect on brain volume changes in MS patients.

The authors obtained MR and magnetization transfer (MT) imaging of the cervical cord from 25 patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). They found no conventional MR abnormalities, but a reduced peak height of the MT ratio (MTR) histogram. This suggests a reduced amount of “truly” normal cord tissue in CADASIL. A significant correlation was found between the extent of brain lesions and cord MTR, suggesting wallerian degeneration as the substrate of the cord MTR changes.