Quantitative assessment of brain iron by R₂* relaxometry in patients with clinically isolated syndrome and relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Quantitative assessment by R(2)* relaxometry suggests increased iron deposition in the basal ganglia of MS patients, which is associated with disease duration and brain atrophy. This technique together with long-term follow-up thus appears suited to clarify whether regional iron accumulation contributes to MS morbidity or merely reflects an epiphenomenon.