Persistent endothelial abnormalities and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption may play an important role in MS lesion formation and progression. In MS, BBB dysfunction occurs not only in active lesions with contrast-enhancement, but also in inactive (chronic) lesions and normal appearing white matter. In this study a novel method to map whole-brain BBB water permeability (IDEALS) was used to measure in non-enhancing MS lesions of 11 relapse-remitting MS patients. Although the permeability for MRI contrast in non-enhancing MS lesions is several orders of magnitude lower than that of enhancing MS lesions, our study demonstrated a robust reduction of lesion water permeability.
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