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Semin Neurol 1998; 18(3): 327-336
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1040884
© 1998 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Putting Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies in Context: Axonal Damage and Disability in Multiple Sclerosis

P. M. Matthews1 , N. De Stefano2 , S. Narayanan, G. S. Francis, J. S. Wolinsky3 , J. P. Antel, D. L. Arnold
  • 1Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK
  • 2Institute of Neurological Sciences, Neurometabolic Unit, University of Siena, Italy
  • 3Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Department of Neurology, The University of Texas at Houston, Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
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Publication History

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) techniques have focused the attention of the multiple sclerosis (MS) research community on reanalysis of classic pathological approaches that have suggested significant axonal injury in this demyelinating disease. There now is abundant evidence from animal work that substantial “innocent bystander” damage to axons can occur with central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Given the close interactions between axons and glia, it is no surprise that glial damage leads to secondary axonal changes. MRI, MRS, and MRS imaging studies have emphasized that axonal loss or damage in MS can be both substantial and early. The dynamic observations that are allowed by these noninvasive measures of pathology have demonstrated direct correlations between these axonal changes and disability, making a compelling case for increased emphasis on finding treatments of MS that may limit damage to CNS axons or salvage injured axons.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis - magnetic resonance spectroscopy - axons - N-acetyl aspartate - MRI - disability