The association between multiple sclerosis and spondylosis: When and why.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Cervical spine spondylosis (CSS) involves degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
• The relationship between MS and CSS is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for CSS in MS patients.
• To explore potential pathogenetic mechanisms linking MS and CSS.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 42 MS patients and 42 age/sex-matched controls.
• Assessment of clinical disability (EDSS, spasticity), brain lesion volume (BLV), and cervical spine CSS indices.
• Evaluation of spinal cord lesion load (SLL).

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited higher rates of abnormal cervical spine posture and disk abnormalities (dehydration, protrusion).
• Abnormal posture was associated with younger age, higher EDSS scores, and increased BLV in MS patients.
• Spasticity was present in all MS patients studied.

Conclusions:

• MS patients have a higher prevalence of spondylosis, correlated with younger age, severe disability, and extensive brain lesions.
• Spasticity and altered extracellular matrix protein expression in the brain and intervertebral discs are proposed as key pathogenetic factors.