Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and usually progressive disease of the human
central nervous system, which is characterized by inflammatory demyelination and neurodegeneration.
The cause or what triggers the first demyelinating event in MS remains unrecognized
and many MS researchers have hypothesized that an initial infection or past exposure
to certain infective agents such as common viruses eventually triggers the unstoppable
immune response in pathophysiology of MS. The authors of this interesting case have
done an excellent job describing an unusual case of tumefactive MS in a patient who
also tested seropositive for hepatitis C. Tumefactive MS is defined as the presence
of atypical white matter lesions closely resembling tumors or abscesses, which are
oval-shaped, well-circumscribed, and ring-enhancing [
1
,
6
]. These lesions usually are single and uncommonly multiple. A diagnosis of tumefactive
MS is often made when a patient is determined to have lesion(s) with such characteristics
and the patient has had one or more relapses [
[1]
].Keywords
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References
- Tumefactive multiple sclerosis: an uncommon diagnostic challenge.J Chiropr Med. 2011; 10: 29-35
- Acute hepatitis C: high rate of both spontaneous and treatment-induced viral clearance.Gastroenterology. Jul 2003; 125: 80-88
- The interferons: mechanisms of action and clinical applications.JAMA. 1991; 226: 1375-1383
- Interferon β-1a alone or in combination with ribavirin: a randomized trial to compare efficacy and safety in chronic hepatitis C.World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7 2005; 11: 4484-4489
- Dual benefit from intramuscular interferon-beta treatment in a patient with multiple sclerosis and chronic hepatitis-C virus infection.Hepato-Gastroenterology. 2002; 49: 1686-1687
- Tumefactive multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C virus 2a/2c infection: dual benefit of long-term interferon beta-1a therapy?.2014 ([current publication])
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 02, 2015
Accepted:
December 23,
2014
Received:
December 19,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
