Researchers from Cleveland Clinic have discovered a new subtype of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research published in Lancet Neurology. These findings, they said, highlight the importance of developing more sensitive imaging techniques for real-time evaluations of brain pathology.
Myelocortical MS (MCMS), the subtype identified by lead author Bruce Trapp, PhD, and colleagues, features neuronal loss without demyelination of white matter in the brain. Reduced neuronal density and cortical thickness were present, however. This suggests neurodegeneration and demyelination can take place independent of one another in MS patients.
When using traditional MRI, MCMS is identical to traditional MS, showing that more advanced imaging will be required to help providers identify patients with MCMS.
“This study opens up a new arena in MS research,” Trapp said in a prepared statement. “It is the first to provide pathological evidence that neuronal degeneration can occur without white matter myelin loss in the brains of patients with the disease. This information highlights the need for combination therapies to stop disability progression in MS.”
“The identification of this new MS subtype highlights the need to develop more sensitive strategies for properly diagnosing and understanding the pathology of MCMS,” Daniel Ontaneda, MD, clinical director of the brain donation program at Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for Treatment and Research in MS, said in the same statement. “We are hopeful these findings will lead to new tailored treatment strategies for patients living with different forms of MS.”
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.