The effect of interferon-β on black holes in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

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-β is administered as a first-line drug in MS patients. However, whether the effect of IFN-β 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.

Keywords::

• black holes
• IFN-β
• magnetic resonance imaging
• multiple sclerosis
• T1-hypointensities

Notes