A research work led by neuroradiologists and neurologists from IDIBELL, the Bellvitge University Hospital, and the Institute of Diagnostic Imaging identified a new magnetic resonance biomarker. This biomarker would make it possible to accurately detect the focus of chronic brain inflammation, associated with the progressive form of multiple sclerosis.

The research, published this June in the prestigious journal European Radiology, is the first fruit of a new line of collaboration between the Radiodiagnosis Service and the Multiple Sclerosis Unit-EMXarxa of the Bellvitge University Hospital. This collaboration aims to investigate multiple sclerosis at the imaging level.

In this study, led by the neuroradiologist and IDIBELL researcher Pablo Naval Baudín, researchers analyze the characteristics of cerebral white matter lesions called phase rim lesions (paramagnetic rim lesions). These lesions are considered potential biomarkers of the progressive form of the disease, but their detection is complex and requires advanced imaging techniques that are not always available and are difficult to quantify objectively.

Thanks to the clinical data provided by the neurologists and the analysis carried out by the radiologists of the examinations of patients with this lesion and patients with other lesions, it has been determined that the use of three-dimensional T1-weighted images – a type of magnetic resonance imaging standard and widely accessible – allows phase-rim lesions to be detected and quantified in a relatively simple and objective manner.

This discovery opens the door to studying their use as easy-to-use biomarkers to detect the progressive form of the disease early and improve its treatments.

Patients suffering from the progressive form of multiple sclerosis do not achieve control and remission of flare-ups and develop severe disability over the years. Until recently, there were no effective therapies for them, but recently treatments have appeared that make research work like this very important.

The results pointed out by the study and its clinical application should be confirmed and developed with further research.

The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.

IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).