title: [Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium in the acute phase of relapses in multiple sclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the factors that are associated with gadolinium enhancement on MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and symptoms of relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients over 18 years diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, secondary progressive and primary progressive from 2009 to 2014, who had a clinical relapse and underwent brain and spinal resonance with gadolinium during the acute phase of the symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 93 patients enrolled, 70% were women, the average age was 37 ± 9.6 years. 90% had relapsing-remitting MS and 50% had at least 5 years since the diagnosis. The 56% had medullar involvement, being the most frequent sensory disturbances (44%). The median duration of symptoms was 6 days (range: 1-89 days). The 93% required treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone 3-5 days, which was administered after performing MRI studies. No evidence statistical difference in the presence of lesions that gadolinium enhancement on MRI during relapse with any of the clinical variables analyzed and only a tendency was observed with associated symptoms (p = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The definition of relapse MS is clinic. However, the enhancement of the MRI in the phase of relapse could be useful to confirm the disease's activity. With this information, could be a useful point on the treatment of these patients with immunomodulatory drugs.
authors.affiliation: Fundacion Cardioinfantil, Bogota DC, Colombia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Universidad CES Medellin, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bareno
authors.affiliation: Fundacion Cardioinfantil, Bogota DC, Colombia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Fundacion Cardioinfantil, Bogota DC, Colombia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.affiliation: Hospitals Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Espana.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium