A cross‐sectional study of MRI features and the gut microbiome in pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Abstract Objective To identify gut microbiome features associated with MRI lesion burden in persons with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis (symptom onset 0.08). At the phylum level, high Tenericutes (relative abundance) was associated with higher T1 and T2 volumes (β coefficient = 0.25, 0.37) and high Firmicutes, Patescibacteria or Actinobacteria with lower lesion volumes (β coefficient = −0.30 to −0.07). At the genus level, high Ruminiclostridium, whereas low Coprococcus 3 and low Erysipelatoclostridium were associated with higher lesion volumes. Interpretation Our study characterized the gut microbiota features associated with MRI lesion burden in pediatric‐onset MS, shedding light onto possible pathophysiological mechanisms.