Hallmarks of spinal cord pathology in multiple sclerosis

Daniel Kreiter*, Alida A Postma, Raymond Hupperts, Oliver H. H. Gerlach

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review articlepeer-review

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Abstract

A disparity exists between spinal cord and brain involvement in multiple sclerosis (MS), each independently contributing to disability. Underlying differences between brain and cord are not just anatomical in nature (volume, white/grey matter organization, vascularization), but also in barrier functions (differences in function and composition of the blood-spinal cord barrier compared to blood-brain barrier) and possibly in repair mechanisms. Also, immunological phenotypes seem to influence localization of inflammatory activity. Whereas the brain has gained a lot of attention in MS research, the spinal cord lags behind. Advanced imaging techniques and biomarkers are improving and providing us with tools to uncover the mechanisms of spinal cord pathology in MS. In the present review, we elaborate on the underlying anatomical and physiological factors driving differences between brain and cord involvement in MS and review current literature on pathophysiology of spinal cord involvement in MS and the observed differences to brain involvement.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122846
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of the neurological sciences
Volume456
Issue number1
Early online date21 Dec 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2024

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