BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Recently published North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis guidelines call for derivation of a specific radiologic definition of MS WM lesions and mimics. The purpose of this study was to use SWI and magnetization-prepared FLAIR images for sensitive differentiation of MS from benign WM lesions using the morphologic characteristics of WM lesions.

LE JOURNAL CANADIEN DES SCIENCES NEUROLOGIQUESSuppl. 2 -S31 opinion from public health nurses and infectious disease specialists. Results: There is currently little consensus about vaccination protocols for patients initiating immunosuppressive therapy. We integrated information from all of our sources to create a preliminary protocol for the vaccination of MS patients prior to initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusions: More work needs to be done to create standardized vaccination protocols for MS patients who will be undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. We have created a preliminary protocol in conjunction with public health to standardize the vaccinations that MS patients receive. We hope that this will streamline immunization of patients immediately after diagnosis of MS so that initiation of immunosuppressive therapy will not be delayed in the future. P.070Characteristics of patients presenting to a multiple sclerosis clinic in Hamilton, Ontario Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease which is highly prevalent in Canada. To date limited data exists on the characteristics of this population in Ontario. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of initial patient presentations to a MS clinic in 2011. Initial and follow-up consult notes were reviewed. Patients with a previous MS diagnosis were excluded. Results: 81 patients presented to the clinic for the first time in 2011. 41 were given alternative diagnoses (non-MS). Of the remaining 40 patients (MS group), 9 had clinically or radiologically isolated syndrome and 8 were in a progressive phase of MS. The mean age of presentation was 22 (MS group) and 47 (non-MS group). The most common initial symptom in both groups was a sensory disturbance. The mean initial EDSS in the MS group was 1.75 (0-6.5). In the MS group only 35% were put on disease modifying treatments. The most common reasons for exclusion of treatment were progressive disease phase, clinically or radiologically isolated syndrome, and unclear diagnosis. In the non-MS group, the most common diagnoses were non-specific MRI findings, transverse myelitis and peripheral nerve or muscular diagnoses. Conclusions: This retrospective review has outlined the characteristics of a MS population in Ontario. P.071Multi-parametric MRI at 7 T enables differentiation of MS and age-related white matter lesions Background: MRI criteria are used to support multiple sclerosis diagnosis and evolution. However, normal age-related lesions (ARLs) can be cofounded with MS white matter lesion (MSL). Methods: Two Multiparametric 7T MRI scans 4 motnhs apart from 5 relapsing MS (RMS) patients were analyzed and compared to 5 matched healthy controls (HC) aiming to differentiate MSLs from ARLs. Six-echo GRE, FLAIR and MPRAGE sequences were acquired. Results: Average size of ARLs was 51 mm3 and of MSLs was