Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
09:41
Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
12.4K
Relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis: insights from pathology
1Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Current Opinion in Neurology
|April 12, 2014
Summary
Understanding the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is key. This review compares relapsing-remitting MS and progressive MS, highlighting differences crucial for developing new treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Neuropathology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
- MS typically presents with relapsing-remitting episodes, later transitioning to progressive neurological decline.
- Current therapies are more effective in the relapsing phase than the progressive phase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide insight into the pathological differences between the relapsing and progressive phases of multiple sclerosis.
- To compare and contrast the distinct pathological features observed in each clinical disease course.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing pathological studies on multiple sclerosis.
- Analysis of cellular responses, inflammatory environments, and lesion locations in relapsing versus progressive MS.
- Correlation of pathological findings with clinical manifestations.
Main Results:
- Pathological studies can distinguish between relapsing and progressive forms of MS.
- Differences are evident in cellular responses, inflammatory milieu, and lesion characteristics.
- These pathological distinctions correlate with observed clinical variations.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic strategies for relapsing MS show limited efficacy in progressive MS.
- A deeper understanding of progressive MS pathogenesis is essential for developing targeted therapies.
- Comparing pathological findings in both phases is critical for advancing treatment development.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
20
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
20
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
2.2K
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is...
2.2K
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
28
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
28
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
35
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and...
35
01:23Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
30
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease arise from a combination of mechanical compression, vascular compromise, and biochemical inflammation, which together disrupt nerve function and produce pain.Mechanical CompressionDisc degeneration reduces height and elasticity, predisposing to herniation of the nucleus pulposus, a major cause of radicular pain. Herniations may be protrusion (bulging with intact annulus), extrusion (nucleus extends beyond disc but remains connected), or sequestration...
30
01:22Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology
53
The disease process of myasthenia gravis begins at the neuromuscular junction, where antibodies attack key proteins needed for muscle activation. This immune reaction weakens signal transmission, leading to the characteristic muscle fatigue and weakness that define the condition.Immune-Mediated DamageIn most individuals, antibodies target acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the postsynaptic membrane of muscle cells. By blocking acetylcholine binding, these antibodies prevent the nerve signal...
53