Application of the Technique of Magnetic Resonance Voxel-based Morphometry in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis before and after using High-dose Immunosuppressive Therapy with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Preliminary Results

Correlation analysis of magnetic resonance voxel-based morphometric parameters of patients with multiple sclerosis before and after high-dose immunosuppressive therapy with transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HDIT + AHSCT). The use of MR-morphometry methods makes it possible to quantitatively and objectively changes of the volume and size of the structures of the brain and cerebellum in patients with MS. We observed 10 patients with MS (3 men, 7 women) who underwent HDIT + AHSCT, and MRI studies were performed before and after transplantation. After postprocessing of MRI data and statistic analyses of morphometry parameters some changes were accrued: some patients showed negative dynamics in white and grey mater volumes and decrease of the absolute volume of the thalamus. Also, study showed positive dynamics in reducing the number of new MS lesions. These results can be associated with the result of treatment, with a local decrease in edema and inflammation. Study showed the need for dynamic MR control of the grey and white matter of the brain and subcortical structures with the help of MR morphometry.