Vascular aspects of multiple sclerosis: emphasis on perfusion and cardiovascular comorbidities

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Neuroimmunology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system disease with increasing prevalence in the aging population.
• Age-associated conditions like cardiovascular diseases may interact with MS pathophysiology, potentially accelerating disease progression.
• Understanding these interactions is vital for managing the long-term health of MS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of cardiovascular involvement on multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology, disease activity, and progression.
• To explore the relationship between cardiovascular health, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive performance in MS.
• To discuss the association between extracranial arterial pathology and brain MS pathology.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cardiovascular involvement in MS.
• Exploration of cardiovascular health metrics and their effect on MS.
• Discussion of advanced imaging techniques, including perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound Doppler, for assessing vascular changes.

Main Results:

• Cardiovascular pathology is linked to poorer clinical and MRI-assessed outcomes in MS.
• Global and regional cerebral hypoperfusion may correlate with diminished physical and cognitive function in MS patients.
• Evidence suggests a higher incidence of extracranial arterial pathology in individuals with MS.

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular pathology significantly exacerbates MS outcomes.
• Cerebral hypoperfusion is associated with worse physical and cognitive performance.
• Proactive management of cardiovascular conditions is essential for improving the overall health and prognosis of MS patients.