Periventricular plaques in multiple sclerosis: irreversible? An MRI follow-up study.
Follow-up MRIs over a period of 2-3 years in 50 patients with multiple sclerosis demonstrate that, in contrast to the circumscribed nonperiventricular lesions of the cerebral white matter, the periventricular plaques only show a remission in exceptional cases as ovoid lesions adjacent to the pars centralis of the lateral ventricles. 90% of the patients exhibited at least one new or enlarged nonperiventricular lesion. 72% had more pronounced periventricular lesions in the second scan. With the help of serial MRIs, inferences can be drawn about the histopathological stage of individual demyelination plaques.
Baum
K
K
Department of Neurology, Rudolf Virchow University Clinic, Free University of Berlin, FRG.
Nehrig
C
C
Schörner
W
W
Girke
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies