Common Pitfalls in Multiple Sclerosis and CNS Demyelinating Diseases

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mark Keegan
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolo’ Bruschi ◽  
Giacomo Boffa ◽  
Matilde Inglese

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for the early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), for investigating the disease pathophysiology, and for discriminating MS from other neurological diseases. Ultra-high-field strength (7-T) MRI provides a new tool for studying MS and other demyelinating diseases both in research and in clinical settings. We present an overview of 7-T MRI application in MS focusing on increased sensitivity and specificity for lesion detection and characterisation in the brain and spinal cord, central vein sign identification, and leptomeningeal enhancement detection. We also discuss the role of 7-T MRI in improving our understanding of MS pathophysiology with the aid of metabolic imaging. In addition, we present 7-T MRI applications in other demyelinating diseases. 7-T MRI allows better detection of the anatomical, pathological, and functional features of MS, thus improving our understanding of MS pathology in vivo. 7-T MRI also represents a potential tool for earlier and more accurate diagnosis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Viswanathan ◽  
N. Rose ◽  
A. Masita ◽  
J. S. Dhaliwal ◽  
S. D. Puvanarajah ◽  
...  

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an uncommon disease in multiracial Malaysia. Diagnosing patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases has been greatly aided by the evolution in diagnostic criterion, the identification of new biomarkers, and improved accessibility to neuroimaging in the country.Objectives. To investigate the spectrum of multiple sclerosis in Malaysia.Methods. Retrospective analysis with longitudinal follow-up of patients referred to a single tertiary medical center with neurology services in Malaysia.Results. Out of 245 patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease, 104 patients had multiple sclerosis. Female to male ratio was 5 : 1. Mean age at onset was 28.6 ± 9.9 years. The Malays were the predominant racial group affected followed by the Chinese, Indians, and other indigenous groups. Subgroup analysis revealed more Chinese having neuromyelitis optica and its spectrum disorders rather than multiple sclerosis. Positive family history was reported in 5%. Optic neuritis and myelitis were the commonest presentations at onset of disease, and relapsing remitting course was the commonest disease pattern observed. Oligoclonal band positivity was 57.6%. At disease onset, 61.5% and 66.4% fulfilled the 2005 and 2010 McDonald’s criteria for dissemination in space. Mean cord lesion length was 1.86 ± 1.65 vertebral segments in the relapsing remitting group as opposed to 6.25 ± 5.18 vertebral segments in patients with neuromyelitis optica and its spectrum disorders.Conclusion. The spectrum of multiple sclerosis in Malaysia has changed over the years. Further advancement in diagnostic criteria will no doubt continue to contribute to the evolution of this disease here.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohga Samy

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and it is characterized by excessive demyelination PURPOSE: The study aim to investigate the possible protective effect of ozone (O3) in ethidium bromide (EB) induced demyelination in rats either alone or in combination with corticosteroid in order to decreases the dose of steroid therapy. MATERIAL and METHODS: Rats were divided into 7 groups Group (1) normal control rats received saline. Group (2) sham-operated rats received saline. Group (3) sham operated rats received oxygen. Group (4) EB-treated rats received EB. Group (5) EB treated rats received oxygen. Group (6) EB treated rats received methyl prednisolone (MP) Group (7) EB treated rats received half the dose of MP concomitant with ozone. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the brain serotonin, dopamine, noradrenalin. A reduction of MDA,TNF-COX2 immune-reactivity was noticed in MP and oxygen groups . Furthermore, best amelioration was achieved by combining half the dose of methyl-prednisolone with ozone. CONCLUSION: We concluded that ozone has a protective effect on demyelination and can be used due to its protective effect in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
J William Lindsey

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common cause of neurologic symptoms and disability in young adults. The distinguishing pathologic features of MS are loss of myelin and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin sheath is essential for rapid conduction of nerve signals along large-diameter axons. Oligodendrocytes produce and maintain myelin in the CNS, and Schwann cells produce and maintain myelin in the peripheral nerves. In addition to MS, there are a number of related disorders causing demyelination, inflammation, or both in the CNS. This chapter discusses MS and related disorders, including neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, Behçet syndrome, neurosarcoidosis, inherited demyelinating diseases (leukodystrophies, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]), and virus-induced demyelination (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). The section on MS covers epidemiology, etiology/genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Figures include organization of the microenvironment of larger-diameter axons, typical magnetic resonance imaging findings in MS and neuromyelitis optica, postgadolinium images of the cervical spine in MS, and an approach to treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Tables list MS and related disorders, distribution of neurologic deficits at the onset of MS, differential diagnosis of MS, disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting MS, and selected leukodystrophies, as well as diagnostic criteria and selected symptomatic therapies for MS. This review contains 3 highly rendered figures, 7 tables, and 82 references.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J William Lindsey

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common cause of neurologic symptoms and disability in young adults. The distinguishing pathologic features of MS are loss of myelin and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin sheath is essential for rapid conduction of nerve signals along large-diameter axons. Oligodendrocytes produce and maintain myelin in the CNS, and Schwann cells produce and maintain myelin in the peripheral nerves. In addition to MS, there are a number of related disorders causing demyelination, inflammation, or both in the CNS. This chapter discusses MS and related disorders, including neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, Behçet syndrome, neurosarcoidosis, inherited demyelinating diseases (leukodystrophies, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]), and virus-induced demyelination (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). The section on MS covers epidemiology, etiology/genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Figures include organization of the microenvironment of larger-diameter axons, typical magnetic resonance imaging findings in MS and neuromyelitis optica, postgadolinium images of the cervical spine in MS, and an approach to treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Tables list MS and related disorders, distribution of neurologic deficits at the onset of MS, differential diagnosis of MS, disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting MS, and selected leukodystrophies, as well as diagnostic criteria and selected symptomatic therapies for MS.   This chapter contains 3 highly rendered figures, 7 tables, 82 references, 1 teaching slide set, and 5 MCQs.


Author(s):  
Siddharthan Chandran ◽  
Alastair Compston

Clinicians suspect demyelination when episodes reflecting damage to white matter tracts within the central nervous system occur in young adults. The paucity of specific biological markers of discrete demyelinating syndromes places an emphasis on clinical phenotype—temporal and spatial patterns—when classifying demyelinating disorders. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the most common demyelinating disorder, becomes probable when these symptoms and signs recur, involving different parts of the brain and spinal cord. Other important demyelinating diseases include post-infectious neurological disorders (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis), demyelination resulting from metabolic derangements (central pontine myelinosis), and inherited leucodystrophies that may present in children or in adults. Accepting differences in mechanism, presentation, and treatment, two observations can usefully be made when classifying demyelinating disorders. These are the presence or absence of inflammation, and the extent of focal vs. diffuse demyelination. Multiple sclerosis is prototypic for the former, whereas dysmyelinating disorders, such as leucodystrophies are representative of the latter....


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2094053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Grasso ◽  
Carmela Borreggine ◽  
Giulia Castorani ◽  
Doriana Vergara ◽  
Lucia Maria Cecilia Dimitri ◽  
...  

Baló’s concentric sclerosis is a rare variant of multiple sclerosis. It belongs to the group of primary inflammatory central nervous system demyelinating diseases having no clear etiology. Peculiar radiological findings on magnetic resonance imaging are alternating rings of demyelinated and myelinated axons resembling an “onion bulb.” We report on a case of a patient with cocaine abuse who presented with Balò’s-like acute multifocal leukoencephalopathy supported by histological and radiological findings. The abuse of cocaine and its most frequent adulterant, levamisole, may induce ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and metabolic or multifocal inflammatory leukoencephalopathy. Only a few studies described levamisole-induced leukoencephalopathy mimicking Balò round lesions. Nevertheless, it has not yet been established the correlation between them; it might also be possible that the cocaine/levamisole addiction represents just a coincidence in some of those patients affected by Balò sclerosis disease.


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