Personalized quantitative MRI multiparameter abnormality maps provide correlates of disability in multiple sclerosis patients
We performed an extensive assessment of the clinical relevance of a method that we had previously developed, which provides personalized quantitative MRI abnormality maps of individual multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Specifically, we assessed the relationships between quantitative T1 (qT1), myelin water fraction (MWF), neurite density index (NDI), magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) abnormality maps and clinical disability in a cohort of 102 MS patients and 98 healthy subjects. We found that qT1 and NDI alterations in white matter lesions were strongly related to patients' clinical disability, supporting the use of those personalized maps for patient stratification and follow-up in clinical practice.