Brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: mechanisms, clinical relevance and treatment options | Autoimmunity Highlights | Full Text

Brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: mechanisms, clinical relevance and treatment options | Autoimmunity Highlights | Full Text

Autoimmunity Highlights

Brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: mechanisms, clinical relevance and treatment options

• Athina Andravizou, 
• Efthimios Dardiotis, 
• Artemios Artemiadis, 
• Maria Sokratous, 
• Vasileios Siokas, 
• Zisis Tsouris, 
• Athina-Maria Aloizou, 
• Ioannis Nikolaidis, 
• Christos Bakirtzis, 
• Georgios Tsivgoulis, 
• Georgia Deretzi, 
• Nikolaos Grigoriadis, 
• Dimitrios P. Bogdanos & 
• Georgios M. Hadjigeorgiou 

Autoimmunity Highlightsvolume 10, Article number: 7 (2019) | Download Citation

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system characterized by focal or diffuse inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss and neurodegeneration. Brain atrophy can be seen in the earliest stages of MS, progresses faster compared to healthy adults, and is a reliable predictor of future physical and cognitive disability. In addition, it is widely accepted to be a valid, sensitive and reproducible measure of neurodegeneration in MS. Reducing the rate of brain atrophy has only recently been incorporated as a critical endpoint into the clinical trials of new or emerging disease modifying drugs (DMDs) in MS. With the advent of easily accessible neuroimaging softwares along with the accumulating evidence, clinicians may be able to use brain atrophy measures in their everyday clinical practice to monitor disease course and response to DMDs. In this review, we will describe the different mechanisms contributing to brain atrophy, their clinical relevance on disease presentation and course and the effect of current or emergent DMDs on brain atrophy and neuroprotection.