Putting Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies in Context: Axonal Damage and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis

P. M. Matthews; N. De Stefano; S. Narayanan; G. S. Francis; J. S. Wolinsky; J. P. Antel; D. L. Arnold

doi:10.1055/s-2008-1040884

Seminars in Neurology, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Semin Neurol 1998; 18(3): 327-336
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1040884

Putting Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies in Context: Axonal Damage and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis

P. M. Matthews¹ , N. De Stefano² , S. Narayanan, G. S. Francis, J. S. Wolinsky³ , J. P. Antel, D. L. Arnold

¹Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK
²Institute of Neurological Sciences, Neurometabolic Unit, University of Siena, Italy
³Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Houston, Health Science Center, Houston, Texas

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) techniques have focused the attention of the multiple sclerosis (MS) research community on reanalysis of classic pathological approaches that have suggested significant axonal injury in this demyelinating disease. There now is abundant evidence from animal work that substantial “innocent bystander” damage to axons can occur with central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Given the close interactions between axons and glia, it is no surprise that glial damage leads to secondary axonal changes. MRI, MRS, and MRS imaging studies have emphasized that axonal loss or damage in MS can be both substantial and early. The dynamic observations that are allowed by these noninvasive measures of pathology have demonstrated direct correlations between these axonal changes and disability, making a compelling case for increased emphasis on finding treatments of MS that may limit damage to CNS axons or salvage injured axons.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis - magnetic resonance spectroscopy - axons - N-acetyl aspartate - MRI - disability

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