Reclassification of multiple sclerosis with new modality visualizing myelin status

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25670424
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Nakahara Jin 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 助教 (60537950)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 多発性硬化症 / 髄鞘 / 可視化技術 / MRI / 病型分類

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previous pathological studies confirmed the presence of heterogeneity in remyelination capacity among multiple sclerosis patients and such capacity may influence the prognosis of the disease. Due to the lack of clinically feasible methods to visualize remyelination, the proof of such heterogeneity in real world clinical practice has been difficult. The researchers recently succeeded to develop a new MRI modality (Myelin Mapping) to visualize myelin for the purpose. In the current study, a clinical study was performed for multiple sclerosis patients to apply the modality, and results suggested that the heterogeneity of remyelination capacity does exist in multiple sclerosis and that such capacity may be influenced by administration of certain drugs.

Free Research Field

神経内科学