The effect of interferon-beta on black holes in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immunological disorder of the CNS. Linked to an initial transient inflammation as the result of blood-brain barrier leakage, the disease progresses into a neurodegenerative phase. MRI is the most powerful paraclinical tool for diagnosing and monitoring MS. Although contrast enhancing lesions are the visible events of blood-brain barrier breakdown, accumulation of hypointense lesions, namely black holes, are recognised as irreversible axonal loss. IFN-beta is administered as a first-line drug in MS patients. However, whether the effect of IFN-beta extends beyond just prevention of blood-brain barrier leakage and further prevents the formation of black holes or promotes their recovery once formed, is not yet understood.
National Institute of Health, National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Neuroimmunology Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA. bagnatof@ninds.nih.gov
Francesca
F
Bagnato
Iordanis E
IE
Evangelou
Antonio
A
Gallo
Deeya
D
Gaindh
Karen
K
Yao
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology
D016899:Interferon-beta