Abstract
Purpose of review
This review provides the reader with updated information needed to make an accurate diagnosis of radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS), discusses controversies and considerations related to therapeutic intervention in RIS, and summarizes ongoing clinical intervention trials.
Recent findings
Individuals with RIS lack clinical neurological symptoms but are at risk for the subsequent development of a first clinical neurological event consistent with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. There are two ongoing clinical intervention trials to determine whether disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis can delay or prevent a first clinical event in individuals with RIS.
Summary
If clinical trials demonstrate a beneficial effect of disease-modifying therapy, such interventions should be considered in individuals with RIS.
Similar content being viewed by others
References and Recommended Reading
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
Gilbert JJ, Sadler M. Unsuspected multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 1983;40(9):533–6.
Morris Z, Whiteley WN, Longstreth WT, Jr., et al. Incidental findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed. 2009;339:b3016.
Granberg T, Martola J, Aspelin P, et al. Radiologically isolated syndrome: an uncommon finding at a university clinic in a high-prevalence region for multiple sclerosis. BMJ Open. 2013;3(11):e003531.
Tienari PJ, Salonen O, Wikstrom J, et al. Familial multiple sclerosis: MRI findings in clinically affected and unaffected siblings. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992;55(10):883–6.
Gabelic T, Ramasamy DP, Weinstock-Guttman B, Hagemeier J, Kennedy C, Melia R, et al. Prevalence of radiologically isolated syndrome and white matter signal abnormalities in healthy relatives of patients with multiple sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2014;35(1):106–12.
Okuda DT, Mowry EM, Beheshtian A, Waubant E, Baranzini SE, Goodin DS, et al. Incidental MRI anomalies suggestive of multiple sclerosis: the radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology. 2009;72(9):800–5.
Lebrun C, Bensa C, Debouverie M, et al. Unexpected multiple sclerosis: follow-up of 30 patients with magnetic resonance imaging and clinical conversion profile. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008;79(2):195–8.
Siva A, Saip S, Altintas A, Jacob A, Keegan BM, Kantarci OH. Multiple sclerosis risk in radiologically uncovered asymptomatic possible inflammatory-demyelinating disease. Mult Scler. 2009;15(8):918–27.
Makhani N, Lebrun C, Siva A, et al. Radiologically isolated syndrome in children: clinical and radiologic outcomes. Neurology(R) Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. 2017;4(6):e395 This is the first description of outcomes following radiologically isolated syndrome in children.
De Stefano N, Giorgio A, Tintore M, et al. Radiologically isolated syndrome or subclinical multiple sclerosis: MAGNIMS consensus recommendations. Mult Scler. 2018;24(2):214–21 This consensus paper outlines considerations related to the radiologically isolated syndrome.
Okuda DT, Siva A, Kantarci O, Inglese M, Katz I, Tutuncu M, et al. Radiologically isolated syndrome: 5-year risk for an initial clinical event. PLoS One. 2014;9(3):e90509.
Okuda DT, Mowry EM, Cree BA, et al. Asymptomatic spinal cord lesions predict disease progression in radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology. 2011;76(8):686–92.
Matute-Blanch C, Villar LM, Alvarez-Cermeno JC, et al. Neurofilament light chain and oligoclonal bands are prognostic biomarkers in radiologically isolated syndrome. Brain. 2018;141(4):1085–93 This study reports spinal fluid markers associated with the subsequent development of a first clinical neurological event in individuals with the radiologically isolated syndrome.
Rossi S, Motta C, Studer V, Macchiarulo G, Germani G, Finardi A, et al. Subclinical central inflammation is risk for RIS and CIS conversion to MS. Mult Scler. 2015;21(11):1443–52.
Lebrun C, Bensa C, Debouverie M, et al. Association between clinical conversion to multiple sclerosis in radiologically isolated syndrome and magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, and visual evoked potential: follow-up of 70 patients. Arch Neurol. 2009;66(7):841–6.
Knier B, Berthele A, Buck D, et al. Optical coherence tomography indicates disease activity prior to clinical onset of central nervous system demyelination. Mult Scler. 2016;22(7):893–900.
Vural A, Okar S, Kurne A, et al. Retinal degeneration is associated with brain volume reduction and prognosis in radiologically isolated syndrome. Mult Scler. 2018;1352458518817987.
Lebrun C, Blanc F, Brassat D, Zephir H, de Seze J, CFSEP. Cognitive function in radiologically isolated syndrome. Mult Scler. 2010;16(8):919–25.
Amato MP, Hakiki B, Goretti B, Rossi F, Stromillo ML, Giorgio A, et al. Association of MRI metrics and cognitive impairment in radiologically isolated syndromes. Neurology. 2012;78(5):309–14.
Azevedo CJ, Overton E, Khadka S, et al. Early CNS neurodegeneration in radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation. 2015;2(3):e102.
Alcaide-Leon P, Cybulsky K, Sankar S, et al. Quantitative spinal cord MRI in radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation. 2018;5(2):e436.
Giorgio A, Stromillo ML, Rossi F, Battaglini M, Hakiki B, Portaccio E, et al. Cortical lesions in radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology. 2011;77(21):1896–9.
Giorgio A, Stromillo ML, De Leucio A, et al. Appraisal of brain connectivity in radiologically isolated syndrome by modeling imaging measures. J Neurosci. 2015;35(2):550–8.
Stromillo ML, Giorgio A, Rossi F, et al. Brain metabolic changes suggestive of axonal damage in radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology. 2013;80(23):2090–4.
Thompson AJ, Banwell BL, Barkhof F, et al. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria. Lancet Neurol. 2017.
Tornatore C, Phillips JT, Khan O, et al. Consensus opinion of US neurologists on practice patterns in RIS, CIS, and RRMS: evolution of treatment practices. Neurol Clin Pract. 2016;6(4):329–38.
Fernandez O, Delvecchio M, Edan G, et al. Survey of diagnostic and treatment practices for multiple sclerosis in Europe. Eur J Neurol. 2017;24(3):516–22.
Carnero Contentti E, Pettinicchi JP, Caride A, et al. Decision-making on radiologically isolated syndrome among Argentinean neurologists: a survey based on clinical experience. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 2019;27:61–4.
Multi-center, randomized, double-blinded assessment of teriflunomide in extending the time to a first clinical event in radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) (TERIS study). [April 19, 2019]. Available from: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Multi-center, randomized, double-blinded assessment of Tecfidera® in extending the time to a first attack in radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) (ARISE) [April 19, 2019]. Available from: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Mowry EM, Waubant E, McCulloch CE, Okuda DT, Evangelista AA, Lincoln RR, et al. Vitamin D status predicts new brain magnetic resonance imaging activity in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2012;72(2):234–40.
Runia TF, Hop WC, de Rijke YB, Buljevac D, Hintzen RQ. Lower serum vitamin D levels are associated with a higher relapse risk in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2012;79(3):261–6.
Simpson S Jr, Taylor B, Blizzard L, et al. Higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with lower relapse risk in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2010;68(2):193–203.
Ramagopalan SV, Dobson R, Meier UC, Giovannoni G. Multiple sclerosis: risk factors, prodromes, and potential causal pathways. Lancet Neurol. 2010;9(7):727–39.
Mowry EM, Krupp LB, Milazzo M, Chabas D, Strober JB, Belman AL, et al. Vitamin D status is associated with relapse rate in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2010;67(5):618–24.
Ascherio A, Munger KL, White R, Köchert K, Simon KC, Polman CH, et al. Vitamin D as an early predictor of multiple sclerosis activity and progression. JAMA neurology. 2014;71(3):306–14.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
Dr. Makhani is supported, in part, by grant number K23NS101099 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health.
Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Makhani, N. Treatment Considerations in the Radiologically Isolated Syndrome. Curr Treat Options Neurol 22, 3 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-020-0608-8
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-020-0608-8