Cortese, Rosa;
(2020)
The role of imaging biomarkers in different demyelinating diseases phenotypes.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The overall aim of this thesis is to develop new imaging biomarkers, which are directly linked to the pathological processes underlying demyelination in different inflammatory demyelinating diseases phenotypes. I investigated how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to: (i) improve the differential diagnosis between multiple sclerosis (MS) and other antibody-mediated demyelinating diseases, and (ii) identify mechanisms of progression. Inflammatory demyelinating diseases represent a spectrum of heterogeneous disorders affecting the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis (MS), aquaporin-4 positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (AQP4-NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-antibody associated disease (MOGAD), are the most defined forms. MRI has become a key investigation in the initial diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of having MS. However, the differentiation among different disease phenotypes is often challenging, since clinical and radiological findings may overlap, but crucial, because some MS therapies cause disease worsening in AQP4- NMOSD. I used conventional and advanced MRI techniques to look for differential biomarkers in MS, AQP4-NMOSD and MOGAD, which may play an important diagnostic role and help to elucidate the biological basis for disease course heterogeneity in MS and the underlying mechanisms of tissue damage in AQP4- NMOSD and MOGAD. A precise understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in progressive MS is an essential prerequisite for achieving therapeutic progress. I investigated longitudinal changes in clinical and advanced MRI measures over 3 years in an early primary progressive (PP) MS cohort, which may be useful in detecting clinically meaningful pathology and may have a role in predicting clinical outcome and treatment response in MS.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | The role of imaging biomarkers in different demyelinating diseases phenotypes |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2020. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10112173 |
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