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.
Bagnato
Francesca
F
National Institute of Health, National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Neuroimmunology Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA. bagnatof@ninds.nih.gov
Evangelou
Iordanis E
IE
Gallo
Antonio
A
Gaindh
Deeya
D
Yao
Karen
K
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