Predictors of risk of secondary progression in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

<h3>Background:</h3><p>Multiple sclerosis (MS) manifests clinically as relapsing disease (relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)), progressive disease, or as combination of these phenotypes. The underlying pathology for relapses and focal inflammatory activity is driven by adaptive immune cells, whereas brain-compartmentalized pathology promoted by innate immune cell activation likely contributes to progression.</p><h3>Objectives:</h3><p>To explore the usability of various imaging and soluble biomarkers in predicting change in clinical phenotype from RRMS to secondary progressive MS (SPMS).</p><h3>Design:</h3><p>Prospective longitudinal study.</p><h3>Methods:</h3><p>Twenty-three RRMS patients aged 40–50 years had clinical evaluation, brain MR imaging, serum neurofilament light and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) measurements, and brain positron emission tomography with translocator protein (TSPO)-binding radioligand [¹¹C](R)-PK11195 at baseline. Patients were followed for 5 years and assessed for signs of conversion to SPMS at the end of follow-up. Evolution to SPMS was determined based on an increased Expanded Disability Status Score and significant accrual of clinical symptoms.</p><h3>Results:</h3><p>After 5 years, 8/23 (35%) patients had converted to SPMS. At baseline, they had increased TSPO-binding in the normal appearing white matter, thalamus, and perilesional area compared to patients who did not convert to SPMS. The proportion and number of TSPO-rim-active lesions were higher among patients developing SPMS. Higher concentration of GFAP and more pronounced thalamic atrophy were also observed among the SPMS convertors.</p><h3>Conclusion:</h3><p>The results suggest that imaging and serum biomarkers reporting on compartmentalized central nervous system inflammation support identification of MS patients at risk of SPMS conversion. Evaluation of thalamic atrophy and measurement of soluble biomarkers can be implemented in the assessment of individual patients’ progression risk in daily clinical practice. This can help in identifying patients who are at greatest need of smoldering pathology-targeting therapy. Larger studies are needed to validate these results.</p>