Neurológia pre prax 6/2016

Magnetic resonance imaging for detection of opportunistic infection of patients with multiple sclerosis

Magnetic resonance imaging has a very important role in the diagnosis of opportunistic infections of multiple sclerosis patients. Most often it is possible occurrence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in connection with the treatment of the monoclonal antibody natalizumab. There is currently no causal treatment, the only thing that positively affects the prognosis of the patient is the earliest possible diagnosis of the disease, followed by a rapid change in clinical management of the patient. That can be achieved only by regular, frequent MRI monitory. This article summarizes the typical early symptoms of the disease, highlights the differences in the findings on MRI, which help to distinguish progressive multifocal disease relapse of multiple sclerosis. There are presented other diseases too, which come into consideration in the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis, magnetic resonance imaging, natalizumab, progresive multifocal leucoencephalopathy, opportunistic infections