Breakthrough offers first direct measurement of spinal cord

[MSUK]

Breakthrough offers first direct measurement of spinal cord myelin in Multiple Sclerosis

Real-time imaging technique provides essential molecular picture of protective nerve sheath.

Researchers have made an exciting breakthrough – developing a first-of-its-kind imaging tool to examine myelin damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). An extremely difficult disease to diagnose, the tool will help physicians diagnose patients earlier, monitor the disease’s progression, and evaluate therapy efficacy...... Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/medicalimaging

[HarryZ]

It's bothersome when articles like this continue to refer to MS as an auto-immune disease when this theory has never been proven!

But if this procedure indeed can accurately measure myelin damage in the spinal cord of MS patients, I wonder if the clinical trials of drugs being used on MS will include this test. Up until now, almost all trials look at measuring the number of white matter brain lesions in patients and we know there is little if any correlation between this and MS symptoms. This test could really affect the efficacy results of drugs in trials. Interesting to say the least.

Harry

[CureOrBust]

But if this procedure indeed can accurately measure myelin damage in the spinal cord of MS patients, I wonder if the clinical trials of drugs being used on MS will include this test.

OCT was looking good as well, but I do not think that has been used for any trials.

I would hazard a guess that the test criteria is being driven by the acceptance of the trial results by the FDA.

[HarryZ]

OCT was looking good as well, but I do not think that has been used for any trials.

I would hazard a guess that the test criteria is being driven by the acceptance of the trial results by the FDA.

This new test could cause the drug companies a lot of problems in that if it indeed accurately measures myelin damage, their test results could show the drugs do little if anything for the MS patient. And that would spell a financial crises for them so don't expect these companies to embrace this new discovery any time soon.