Duration and selectivity of blood-brain barrier breakdown in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis studied by gadolinium-DTPA and protein markers.
Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA) enhancement seen with magnetic resonance imaging in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CREAE) corresponded with sites of blood-brain barrier breakdown judged by traditional markers in areas of inflammatory demyelination. Duration of Gd-DTPA leakage for individual lesions in CREAE varied from 5 days to more than 5 wks. By contrast, in acute EAE leakage was of shorter duration (always less than 5 days). Selective enhancement was observed in CREAE lesions using Gd-protein markers. Gd-albumin enhancement was not always seen in areas of leakage of the smaller molecular weight compound Gd-DTPA. The addition of immunoglobulin to the gadolinium complex led to enhancement of lesions not seen with Gd-albumin alone. From the similarities between the histology and the patterns of Gd-enhancement in CREAE and multiple sclerosis, it is probable that Gd-enhancement reflects active inflammation (with or without demyelination) in the human disease.
Hawkins
C P
CP
Institute of Neurology, National Hospital, Queen Square, London, UK.
Munro
P M
PM
MacKenzie
F
F
Kesselring
J
J
Tofts
P S
PS
du Boulay
E P
EP
Landon
D N
DN
McDonald
W I
WI
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011506:Proteins; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA