Quantitative MRI of rostral spinal cord and brain regions is predictive of functional recovery in acute spinal cord injury

NeuroImage: Clinical, 2018 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2018.08.026 · Published: August 19, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Neuroimaging Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study uses quantitative MRI (qMRI) to understand how the brain and spinal cord change after a spinal cord injury (SCI). The goal is to find early signs of these changes that can predict how well someone will recover. Researchers examined patients with recent SCI and healthy individuals using MRI to measure the volume and structure of the spinal cord and brain. They looked for changes in the amount of tissue, myelin, and iron. The study found that changes in the spinal cord and brain, especially in the cerebellum, soon after the injury could predict how much function a person would regain over the next two years. These findings suggest that early MRI scans could help doctors understand a patient's potential for recovery.

Study Duration

24 Months

Participants

24 acute SCI patients and 23 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Early after SCI, there are decreases in the size of the spinal cord and changes in the cerebellum.
2
Changes in the spinal cord and cerebellum soon after injury are related to how well a person recovers motor and sensory functions over two years.
3
Atrophy in the grey matter was evident within the limbic system.

Research Summary

The study investigated early neurodegenerative changes following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) using quantitative MRI (qMRI) and assessed their predictive value for functional recovery. Results showed early volumetric and microstructural changes in the spinal cord and brain regions, particularly the cerebellum, which were predictive of functional recovery. The findings suggest that qMRI markers could supplement clinical assessments and provide insights into the potential of therapeutic interventions to enhance neural plasticity after SCI.

Practical Implications

Prognostic Biomarkers

Early qMRI markers can serve as biomarkers to predict functional recovery following SCI, aiding in personalized treatment plans.

Therapeutic Targets

Identifying specific brain regions and microstructural changes can guide the development of targeted therapeutic interventions to enhance neural plasticity.

Clinical Trial Design

qMRI can be used to monitor the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in clinical trials, providing quantitative measures of neurodegeneration and recovery.

Study Limitations

1
Patients were on average 10 years older than controls that may aﬀect compensatory eﬀects.
2
The determined MR parameters (MT, R1, and R2*) are an indirect measure of macromolecular contents in tissue structure.
3
The acquisition time of MPM research protocol is relatively long for its clinical application

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