Roles of MRI in monitoring disease activity and treatment in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most important diagnostic tool in multiple sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, MRI is crucial for providing imaging biomarkers for monitoring disease activity and treatment response. Software for measuring the volume of anatomical structures and MS lesions visualized by MRI has been evolving and has frequently been used in research studies and clinical trials. MRI is also useful for evaluating and/or predicting the therapeutic effects of disease–modifying drugs (DMDs) for MS and plays an important role in the early diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a side effect of DMDs. This review summarizes the latest information on MRI as an imaging biomarker in MS.