QUANTITATIVE CEREBRAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING DURING ACTH TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

Serial MR scans were performed with the 2DFT imaging method and the fi ltered backprojection imaging method on 12 patients with multiple scle rosis in acute phase, 4 in a relapsing/remitting form, and 8 in a prog ressive form, before, during and after ACTH treatment. Both T-1 and T- 2mono relaxation times, obtained by fitting transverse magnetization d ecay curves with a monoexponential function within the apparently norm al white matter and the areas of increased signal, were measured. With the backprojection method it was possible to fit the transverse magne tization decay curve with a biexponential function and obtain T-2long and T-2short relaxation times. The T-2mono and T-1 relaxation times of the apparently normal white matter were significantly different from those obtained for volunteers, but no significant differences were fou nd before, during, or after treatment. The transverse magnetization de cay curves of the areas of increased signal were better fitted by a bi exponential function. No significant changes in these relaxation times were observed after ACTH treatment. These results argue against an an ti-oedematous action of ACTH and may suggest that it has an immunosupp ressant effect.