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Table of Contents Book Introduction Reviews Autoimmune Risks/Symptoms Checklist |
Author: Mary J. Shomon
ISBN number: 0060938196
List price: $14.95 (US dollars)
Published by: HarperCollins, HarperResource
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Brain Scan Helps Tell the Future of MS: MRI Predicts if Early Signs Will Develop Into Disability(January 2002)
A study presented in the January 17, 2002 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reported that an MRI brain scan may be able to predict which people who have potential MS symptoms likely do have the condition, and will go on to experience significant disability due to the course of the MS.
In almost all cases of MS, people develop symptoms such as blurry vision, or a weak foot or leg, or difficulty controlling an arm or leg. After additional tests, a diagnosis of “possible” MS is given.
In this research, 71 people with a nerve problem possibly indicative of MS were studied. Each person had a series of MRI scans, and were then evaluated 14 years later. MS developed in 68% of the people studied. And among the 71 people tested, 88% of those with abnormal MRI results eventually developed actual MS, versus 19% of the people with normal MRI results. This meant that the abnormal MRI was strongly indicative of those would go on to develop MS.
The researchers also evaluated the amount of abnormal markings on the MRI, looking to connect the amount to the level of eventual disability. They were able to link the existence of more than 10 abnormal markings to an increased risk of considerable disability in the future. And a higher level of abnormalities appearing in the first 5 years was also indicative of higher risk of substantial disability. This suggests that early treatment in the early stage of the disease may help prevent longer-term disability.
SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine, January 17, 2002
In the chapter covering multiple sclerosis in the book Living Well With Autoimmune Disease, one of the interesting "Things to Know," includes the following:
In one study of multiple sclerosis patients conducted at the University of California-San Francisco/Mount Zion Medical Center, researchers found that stress caused new brain lesions to form in the study participants. Stress reduction is, therefore, an important component of living with MS.
Find out more about MS in Living Well With Autoimmune Disease.
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