Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32399696›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2020

The contribution of enhancing lesions in monitoring multiple sclerosis treatment: is gadolinium always necessary?

Elena Tsantes, E Curti, C Ganazzoli, F Puci, V Bazzurri, A Fiore, G Crisi, F Granella

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Elena TsantesNeurosciences Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy. elena.tsantes@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0388-197X
E CurtiNeurosciences Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
C GanazzoliNeuroradiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
F PuciNeurosciences Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
V BazzurriNeurosciences Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
A FioreNeurosciences Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
G CrisiNeuroradiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy.
F GranellaNeurosciences Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMRI is highly sensitive for monitoring of disease activity and treatment efficacy in MS. Patients treated with disease modifying therapy (DMT), who experience MRI activity, including contrast-enhancing lesions (CEL) or new/enlarged T2 lesions, should be evaluated for a switch to more effective treatment. Due to recent evidence of gadolinium (Gd) accumulation in the brain after repeated administration of Gd-based contrast agents, FDA recommended to limit its use.

aimTo investigate the proportion of cases in which MRI activity would be detectable only using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences.Secondary aims were to assess the presence of clinical or demographic variables associated with reactivation of pre-existing lesions and to analyse therapeutic consequences of different types of MRI lesions.

methodsWe retrospectively evaluated brain MRI scans, performed between 2014 and 2018, in patients treated with DMT for at least 6 months.

resultsWe analysed 906 scans in 255 patients. New/enlarged T2 lesions were detected in 13.7% of cases, CEL in 3.5%, CEL without new T2 lesions (old lesions reactivated) in 1.1%. No variables were associated with old lesions reactivated. CEL with T2 equivalent were at higher risk of DMT switch, compared with new/enlarged T2 lesions without corresponding CEL (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5-10.4, p  = 0.005).

conclusionsReactivation of pre-existing lesions is limited to a tiny fraction of MRI studies. Gd + T1-weighted images could be omitted, in patients treated with DMT for at least 6 months, without relevant loss of information.

Indexed as

GadoliniumMultiple SclerosisBrainContrast MediaHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingRetrospective StudiesContrast MediaGadoliniumEnhancing lesionsGadoliniumMRIMultiple sclerosis

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.