Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

MRI can predict progression in gray matter
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Multiple Sclerosis Progression Can Be Predicted With MRI
ScienceDaily (Nov. 6, 2008) — A new study published in Journal of Neuroimaging shows that MRI scans used on multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to determine if the disease has affected gray matter in the brain can identify those at-risk for progression of disability.
MS affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States and as many as 2.5 million worldwide. It is the most common cause of progressive disability in young adults. While the cause of the disease remains unknown, it is characterized by damage to the covering over the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, or to the nerve fiber itself.
In an attempt to understand the causes of disease progression, researchers at the Partners MS Center, led by Dr. Rohit Bakshi and his team, have developed new ways to detect gray matter damage.
Dr. Bakshi, Director of the Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research and an Associate Professor of Neurology and Radiology at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, led a four year follow-up study, which found that patients with unnatural darkness of gray matter structures as seen on MRI pictures carried a higher risk for progression of physical disability. This abnormal darkness is referred to as T2 hypointensity, and is suggestive of excessive iron deposits. In addition, the researchers found that the new marker of gray matter damage showed closer correlations with patients' clinical status than other established MRI markers of disease severity, including lesions, also known as "plaques," and shrinkage of the brain, also know as "atrophy."
"MRI scans obtained from patients with MS are being used to develop measures and techniques that can accurately measure the visible and hidden damage to the brain, especially in gray matter areas and can more accurately predict the course of the disease," says Bakshi.
As a result of the findings, MRI-based measurement of gray matter damage may be used as a surrogate marker of disease progression. Physicians may therefore be able to more accurately identify patients at risk for developing this progressive disease.
MS has been traditionally viewed as a disease affecting the white matter of the brain, where messages are transferred between the brains gray matter sections, which control the processing of information. While prior research has shown that the brain's gray matter is also affected, studies detailing its effects have been limited. In addition, current therapies for MS are incomplete, raising the need to better understand disease mechanisms and the biomarkers of disease progression. If excessive iron in gray matter contributes to damage, this would open a new avenue for developing better therapies

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Mul... ds user explains it better--they have had the procedure

Hi Sherry,

I’m currently working get an appointment to have an MVR done at Stanford and an appointment with Dr. Dake. If the numbers are true, that 100% of MS patients tested have had stenosis, then I’m very encouraged. Why wouldn’t I fix something that’s broken? Regardless of the implications for improvements in MS Symptoms? Anyway I will start a tracking post as well on the this is ms web site when I get appointments.

Also, on a similar vein, getting more oxygen in the blood stream, one of the posters entered their own protocol for getting more oxygen into the system. They have met with some criticism, but at this point, if it doesn’t hurt me or my pocketbook, why not give it a try. It doesn’t sound like it’s an unhealthy approach, and certainly isn’t expensive. So here’s the link. http://brain.hastypastry.net/forum...

Keep following the breadcrumbs,
Ruthless67

I am curious how is CCSVI fixed and can it been fixed or treated? What percentage if any are people with MS are affected by this in the research the Doctors are doing? I would like to tell you Sherryalton that I truly appreciate all this information you have given to our group, thanks!!!

Other heavy metals have also been suspected like mercury, aluminum and lead.

Thanks Sherry. I really think this may be the answer. Another blood disorder called Hughes Syndrome or "sticky blood" causes some of the same symptoms that MS does and is treated with blood thinners from aspirin to warfarin. I can't help but wonder if Hughes is actually caused by the same stenosis. It would make sense.

I know that I have weak vein valves that result in varicose veins and I had serious blood clots during my last pregnancy. So it would not surprise me if this were signs of what is causing my MS.

It would also explain why aspirin relieves my fatigue and brain fog.

Thanks too, to Ruthless for the info on MOT.

Now that I am about to start LDN, I am wondering what it is about LDN that helps so much in relation to the blood disorder/stenosis that may be the culprit of MS. Hmmmm......my brain is starting to hurt!