High-Field MRI Iron-Based Contrast-Enhanced Characterization of Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Diseases

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder that affects young adults world-wide. Feraheme (ferumoxytol) is FDA-approved for iron supplementation and is composed of iron oxide nanoparticles classified among the ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIO). After IV injection, the particles are taken up by the monocyte-macrophage system and can also be used to track macrophage infiltration by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after systemic injection owing to the strong image contrast of the iron-loaded macrophages. Approximately 24 hours after their IV injection, free particles are cleared from the circulation and MR signal alterations are thought to arise from the capture of particles by circulating phagocytic cells that are attracted to inflammatory lesions. In this project we hypothesize that Feraheme could become a sensitive and specific marker of active inflammation in multiple sclerosis. We will explore this hypothesis by taking advantage of ultra high field strength (7T) MRI to further increase the effectiveness of the contrast agent Feraheme at revealing inflammatory activity.