Peripheral nerve abnormality in multiple sclerosis.
Biopsy specimens of sural nerve from 10 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), of whom only 1 was severely disabled, were assessed by morphometric techniques and compared to nerves from age-matched controls. The frequency of abnormal teased fibers was increased in MS nerve, with many internodes showing at least a 50% reduction in myelin thickness. Myelinated nerve fiber densities were not significantly different in MS and control nerves. Regression analysis of axonal area on number of myelin lamellae indicated a generalized reduction of myelin lamellae in this disorder. It is suggested that peripheral myelin may be involved in multiple sclerosis.
D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology