MRI Study of NMOSD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the human brain investigating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD).
IRAS ID
232359
Contact name
Georg Meyer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are rare, relapsing, inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, particularly targeting the spinal cord and optic nerves. Though less well studied, it is increasingly recognised that the brain is also commonly affected. Antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG), and more recently, antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) have been identified in the sera of individuals with NMOSD. This research aims to test the hypothesis that the inflammatory process in the brain is different between AQP4-IgG positive and MOG-IgG positive NMOSD.
There is little published research on brain involvement in NMOSD, particularly from an imaging perspective. Conventional MRI has only limited ability to detect brain changes in NMOSD. In this study, we propose to use several additional MRI sequences (generally reserved for research rather than routine clinical purposes) to investigate brain involvement in individuals with NMOSD and to investigate the differences between the AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG-mediated inflammation.
We will be scanning individuals with NMOSD and compare them with healthy controls. In the scanner, we will use specific MRI protocols to measure the grey and white matter volume, brain functional connectivity, blood perfusion and examine the microstructural integrity of the grey and white matter. These scans will take less than an hour to perform and will then be analysed using specific software and programmes.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0650
Date of REC Opinion
30 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion