Reduced Brain Oxygen Metabolism in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Measured by Venous Blood Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping

Motivation: It remains largely unknown whether venous blood susceptibility can be used as an imaging biomarker of neuronal activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Goal(s): To assess the oxygen saturation of the internal cerebral veins (ICVs), and their correlations with clinical scores in MS patients. Approach: Susceptibility of ICVs was measured on QSM data in 18 MS patients and 10 controls. The susceptibility of ICV values were correlated with clinical scores using linear regression in MS patient. Results: There was a significant reduction in ICV susceptibility (indicating an increased oxygen saturation) in MS patients. The decreased venous susceptibility correlated with cognitive decline in these patients. Impact: This study provides first-of-its-kind evidence that reduced oxygen consumption in deep cerebral regions may be associated with cognitive decline in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Venous blood susceptibility could be an imaging biomarker of cerebral oxygen metabolism in MS.