title: Can clinical outcomes be used to detect neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis?
abstract: Neuroprotection is a difficult concept to define in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS), a complex heterogeneous disease with an uncertain immunopathogenetic mechanism. Although treatment and natural history studies use clinical determinants and MRI metrics to assess disability, long-term progression, and the effects of disease-modifying drugs, the association between clinical and imaging outcomes is relatively modest. In the future, a composite measure comprising both clinical and imaging markers, along with investigational surrogates derived from molecular genetics and proteomics, may provide an accurate quantitative measure of neuroprotection. However, a consensus definition of "neuroprotection" applicable to MS needs to be established before such a tool can be validated and put to use.
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. okhan@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents