Does Lesion Count Matter?

[Sammy76]

Hi,

I have been diagnosed with 23 lesions, does that matter or is 1 lesion the same as 23? I don't know if the lesion count matters or if doesn't predict what type of MS I will eventually have.

Please give me some information.


Thanks,

Samantha

[lyndacarol]

Samantha--In my opinion, the number of lesions does NOT matter. In my own case, my first three MRIs showed NO lesions. In fact, my first neurologist told me that I definitely did not have MS (but I do).

Some people who have no symptoms of MS are found upon autopsy to have lesions. Others who have died of severe initial MS attacks have been found to have no immune system involvement at autopsy.

Even some scientists say there is no correlation between lesion numbers and eventual disease severity. I am not a scientist, but from my personal experience, I see no correlation whatsoever.

[Jean]

It seems there's no correlation between symptoms and number of lesions a the time you have your MRI. However, some researchers saw think tend to think ther's a correlation between the number of lesions on first mri and degree of disability 10 or 15 years later. Here's a link to an article from the french neurology newspaper : http://www.neurologies.net/pathologies/ ... e.opti.pdf
(sorry, it's in french)

Of course, it's only a correlation, and no one can tell you with 100% certainty how will be your disease course. In addition, this correlation was made without taking into account available treatments, which may reduce your number of lesions.

My girlfriend first MRI showed approximatively the same number of lesions as you, and I had the same question about this correlation a few weeks ago.

[Wonderfulworld]

Hi Samantha
I was told my brain was like a checker-board, covered in lesions. They didn't even count them
That was 10 years ago, and I'm doing absolutely great. I took Rebif (didn't suit me) then Copaxone (doing brilliant on it) and am in better shape than I was even 5 years ago.
So, I know it's easy to say, but try not stress about the 23, I don't think that there are many definites in MS. Everyone is different. That said I used to feel panicked about my countless lesions but I have done well given it's 10 years since dx.
Best of luck

[mamahawk]

In 2005, I became extremely fatigues, mentally foggy, just felt generally awful and then in Sept 2005 developed patchy blindness. I was hospitalized and had all the usual tests - spinal was positive for olig bands, and my MRI showed 20 lesions.

I was released from the hospital and developed lower leg tingling, and my left hand didn't work quite right. All over body tingling, buzzing was happening at night. I was really very ill for a few months.

I tried Copaxone for 2 months but the site reactions were too much.

Dec 2005 I started LDN, 3mg, then 4.5mg which I still take.
Feb 2006 I started Doxycycline.
March 2006 started Azithromycin.
May of 2006 started pulsing Flagyl.

MRI in October 2006 showed no new lesions.. and some of the 20 had disappeared.

Improvement occurred gradually, and this past summer - I can say I feel 100%... no symptoms at all, no deficiencies, full energy, no mental fog.

I have another MRI in October 2007 - will post about it when I get the results!