title: The role of magnetic resonance imaging studies in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common cause of disability in young adults. Establishing a definitive diagnosis of the disease is often difficult, and there is much uncertainty concerning prognosis once the diagnosis is made. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have proved to be a useful diagnostic test in the initial evaluation and monitoring of patients with MS. They also provide a means for quantitative assessment of disease activity and progression during clinical trials of MS therapies. Improvements in MRI technology show promise in providing more accurate measurements of disease extent. The new technique of magnetic resonance spectroscopy can be used to monitor the specific pathophysiology of evolving MS plaques in vivo and may provide insights that lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of MS.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center, Dept of Neurology, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerreta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta