LONGITUDINAL MRI IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - CORRELATION BETWEEN DISABILITY AND LESION BURDEN

We followed 18 multiple sclerosis patients clinically and with repeate d brain MRIs with and without gadolinium for over 1 year. Clinical eva luations included scoring on the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Sc ale (EDSS) and the Ambulation Index (AI) scale. There was a significan t correlation between the change in EDSS or Al and the change in numbe r of lesions on MRI and between cumulative number of lesions on MRI an d cumulative change in EDSS or AI. Our findings support the validity o f MRI as a measure of clinical activity and potentially as an objectiv e quantitative outcome measure for assessing response to therapy.