Multiple Sclerosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Multiple Sclerosis, including details on diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prognosis.

Reduction of brain volume in MS. MRI and pathology findings.

Lycklama à Nijeholt GJ

VU Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. g.lycklama@vumc.nl

Atrophy is one of the hallmarks in multiple sclerosis (MS), especially in the advanced stage. Modern magnetic resonance (MR) techniques can reliably measure brain volume and changes therein. Depending on the technique used, changes of about 1% may be detected. Clinicoradiological studies show good correlation between atrophy measures, both in brain and spinal cord, and clinical measures. The exact relationship between focal MS lesions and global atrophy has yet to be established. Number of lesions early in the disease seems to predict later atrophy. The exact pathomechanism of atrophy in MS probably may be explained by both demyelination and axonal loss--which may occur independently from each other.

Published 13 June 2005 in J Neurol Sci, 233(1): 199-202.
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