A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Spinal Cord Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: MRI Monitoring and Prognostic Factors for Active Disease

What this Trial Is About

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disease affecting the central nervous system and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults. Researchers are studying the occurrence of asymptomatic spinal cord lesions in recently diagnosed MS patients starting disease-modifying treatments (DMT). This observational study aims to understand how often these silent spinal cord lesions appear, especially when brain MRI shows no new disease activity, and to identify factors that may predict these lesions early in the disease course. Participants will undergo regular brain MRI scans as part of routine care, with additional spinal cord MRI scans collected over 27 months. Blood samples and clinical data will also be gathered, and cerebrospinal fluid markers will be analyzed if available. The study will explore associations between spinal cord lesions and various immune and clinical markers, including B-cell profiles, intrathecal antibody synthesis, and specific blood biomarkers. Patients will be recruited from multiple centers and followed closely to monitor disease activity. During the study, participants will have scheduled MRIs, outpatient visits, and blood collections to track neurological changes and disability progression. Outcome measurements include spinal cord lesion counts, brain MRI activity, disability scales, walking and hand function tests, and urinary symptoms. The research team will use these data to better understand disease activity and potentially improve monitoring strategies. The study will last 27 months, with an option to consider an extension phase based on findings.

Spinal Cord Monitoring in Multiple Sclerosis