MRI, Clinical Assessments Not Prognostic in MS

[Marco]

For patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments do not appear to offer long-term prognostic value.

Bruce Cree, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis Center, and colleagues conducted a prospective study involving 517 actively managed MS patients. They examined whether clinical and MRI data had long-term prognostic value.

"The data call into question the utility of annual MRI assessments as a treat-to-target approach for MS care," the authors write.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...ana.24747/epdf

[Jules A]

This is perhaps the most unnerving part for me. Although I will strive to remain thankful that I have done well for so long that we can be fine for years and suddenly have the rug ripped out from underneath remains a constant fear. As they say "its only benign until its not".

[Thinkimjob]

[QUOTE=Marco;1495068]

For patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments do not appear to offer long-term prognostic value.

[COLOR=#1D2129][FONT=helvetica][LEFT]Bruce Cree, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California San Francisco Multiple Sclerosis Center, and colleagues conducted a prospective study involving 517 actively managed MS patients. They examined whether clinical and MRI data had long-term prognostic value.
"The data call into question the utility of annual MRI assessments as a treat-to-target approach for MS care," the authors write.

Well knock me down with a feather, (which believe me is not as hard as it sounds these days).

[pennstater]

Currently in the middle of central Pennsylvania moutains and have no signal most of time. Really interested to read this when I get home. Can't keep a signal long enough to download!

[rdmc]

Thanks Marco,

I thought I had replied to this thread, I guess not.

My first neuro was not a proponent of regular MRIs...she said she treated the patient (and their symptoms), not an MRI.

Present neuro does brain MRI once a year. I'm allergic to gad, so no contrast, but my MRI is
more to keep track of one pesky lesion.

As to the failing of an MRI as a prognosticator, oh well, we've always known it's just a snapshot
of a constantly changing "landscape."