Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophies

Spinal cord gray matter atrophy correlates with multiple sclerosis disability

“…5 This corresponded to clinically documented muscular atrophy (especially in the intrinsic hand muscles) in the majority of MS cases assessed at autopsy. 5 Involvement of myelinated axons within the GM is also a well-established feature of MS pathology; demyelination of these axons was first reported by Dawson in 1916. 6 However, following these early insights, the attention of the scientific community shifted away from the GM pathology in MS. For several decades thereafter, MS was generally regarded as a white matter (WM) disease.…”

“…The involvement of the spinal cord gray matter (GM) in multiple sclerosis (MS) was recognized during the late 19th and early 20th century . In 1933, Davison described various changes in the anterior horn cells (shrinkage, pyknosis, central chromatolysis, swelling, vacuolization) as well as pronounced gliosis of the spinal cord GM . This corresponded to clinically documented muscular atrophy (especially in the intrinsic hand muscles) in the majority of MS cases assessed at autopsy .…”

Lower motor neuron loss in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

“…Interestingly, single motor unit amplitudes in our MUNE study were significantly higher in patients than in controls, which may indeed point to collateral reinnervation occurring in MS. 25,29 Axonal pathology has previously been accepted as a feature of MS. 2,4,30 In contrast, results concerning neuronal damage are still controversial and even contradictory. 12,14 Anterior horn cell loss in MS was already suggested early in the 20th century, 31,32 but was sub-sequently neglected due to the perception of MS as an exclusively inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the upper motor neuron tract. Our electrophysiological studies provided the rationale for a detailed examination of postmortem spinal cord specimens from advanced-stage MS patients.…”

“…In contrast, results concerning neuronal damage are still controversial and even contradictory 12, 14. Anterior horn cell loss in MS was already suggested early in the 20th century,31, 32 but was subsequently neglected due to the perception of MS as an exclusively inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the upper motor neuron tract. Our electrophysiological studies provided the rationale for a detailed examination of postmortem spinal cord specimens from advanced‐stage MS patients.…”

The Concurrence of Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

“…Fasciculations have not been mentioned in the extensive works of Muller, 15 Abb, 16 Davison, 17 and Nagler, 26 and "fibrillation" involving the tongue and hand muscles in one patient (case 44) has been recorded by Thygesen. 27 Kurtzke 28 recalls no other documented cases and states' 'fasciculations are almost enough to rule out this disease" (MS) and "even though the disease does destroy gray matter there is a rarity of fasciculations.''…”