The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is a complex and difficult journey involving many tests and procedures which can not only give clues that help with the diagnosis but also help to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms.
A recent clinical trial has explored the use of an imaging test called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness, difficulty with coordination and balance, and problems with vision. It is a lifelong condition that can result in serious disability. It is one of the most common causes of disability in young adults.
There are many different ways to detect multiple sclerosis that include blood tests, spinal tap (lumbar puncture), MRI, and evoked potential tests that detect electrical signals produced by the brain and spinal cord. One of the main indicators of multiple sclerosis is the appearance of brain lesions, which can be seen on MRI scans. Gadolinium is a type of contrast material that is used during MRI scans to improve the visibility of certain types of tissue including the brain and spinal cord.
Recently, a clinical trial investigated the use of Gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans for detecting the brain lesions of multiple sclerosis patients.
The clinical study, published in the journal Neurologia (Engl Ed), involved 90 patients who had relapsed following previous treatment for multiple sclerosis. These patients underwent gadolinium-enhanced MRI at the onset of symptoms and after 15 days. The researchers aimed to determine whether gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans could provide more accurate information about the presence and extent of brain lesions in multiple sclerosis patients who were experiencing a relapse.