Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
09:46
Rat Model of Widespread Cerebral Cortical Demyelination Induced by an Intracerebral Injection of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
Published on: September 21, 2021
5.3K
Slowly Expanding Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Mohammad Yazdan Panah1, Mehra Fekri1, Zahra Zahedi1
1Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81839-83434, Iran.
Neurosci
|March 24, 2026
Summary
Slowly expanding lesions (SELs) affect over half of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), indicating chronic inflammation and demyelination. These radiological markers are linked to disability and disease progression, suggesting their importance in MS management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Slowly expanding lesions (SELs) are radiological markers of chronic active demyelination and smoldering inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- SELs are associated with disability worsening and brain atrophy in people with MS (PwMS).
- Understanding the prevalence and clinical relevance of SELs is crucial for MS management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the available evidence on the prevalence of SELs in PwMS.
- To evaluate the clinical relevance of SELs in MS.
- To assess the association of SELs with disease progression and treatment response.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to May 25, 2025.
- Meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence of SELs in PwMS.
- Systematic review to evaluate the clinical relevance of SELs, including associations with neuroinflammation, demyelination, disability, and treatment effects.
Main Results:
- Twenty studies including 4970 PwMS met the inclusion criteria.
- The pooled prevalence of SELs in PwMS was 57.1% (95% CI: 44.9% to 69.3%).
- SELs are associated with chronic neuroinflammation, ongoing demyelination, disability, microstructural damage, axonal degeneration, and decrease with disease-modifying therapies.
Conclusions:
- SELs affect approximately half of PwMS and are linked to disability and disease progression.
- SELs may serve as a critical radiomarker for monitoring MS.
- Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore therapeutic implications.
