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cheerMultiple sclerosis. Contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis show that increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier commonly occurs with this disease. Lymphocyte recruitment into the brain across endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier, which is otherwise restricted and well regulated, represents a critical event in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (Correale and Villa 2007). The changes in capillary permeability often precede T2-weighted MRI evidence of tissue damage. Increased gelatinase B (a type of matrix metalloproteinase) is associated with an open blood-brain barrier on MRI. Steroids may improve capillary function by reducing activity of gelatinase B.
Various inflammatory factors produced by perivascular cells in multiple sclerosis affect the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. One of these, the intercellular adhesion molecule-1, binds to its leukocyte ligands and allows activated leukocytes entry into the central nervous system. According to 1 hypothesis, pathological reflux of venous flow in the cerebral and spinal veins increases the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by the cerebrovascular endothelium, which, in turn, could lead to increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (Simka 2009).