Duration and selectivity of blood-brain barrier breakdown in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis studied by gadolinium-DTPA and protein markers

• Published in: Brain (London, England : 1878) Vol. 113 ( Pt 2); p. 365
• Main Authors: Hawkins, C P, Munro, P M, MacKenzie, F, Kesselring, J, Tofts, P S, du Boulay, E P, Landon, D N, McDonald, W I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.04.1990
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers; Blood-Brain Barrier; Chronic Disease; Contrast Media; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - diagnosis; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - metabolism; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental - pathology; Gadolinium DTPA; Guinea Pigs; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Microscopy, Electron; Organometallic Compounds; Pentetic Acid; Proteins - metabolism; Recurrence; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0006-8950
• DOI: 10.1093/brain/113.2.365

Gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA) enhancement seen with magnetic resonance imaging in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CREAE) corresponded with sites of blood-brain barrier breakdown judged by traditional markers in areas of inflammatory demyelination. Duration of Gd-DTPA leakage for individual lesions in CREAE varied from 5 days to more than 5 wks. By contrast, in acute EAE leakage was of shorter duration (always less than 5 days). Selective enhancement was observed in CREAE lesions using Gd-protein markers. Gd-albumin enhancement was not always seen in areas of leakage of the smaller molecular weight compound Gd-DTPA. The addition of immunoglobulin to the gadolinium complex led to enhancement of lesions not seen with Gd-albumin alone. From the similarities between the histology and the patterns of Gd-enhancement in CREAE and multiple sclerosis, it is probable that Gd-enhancement reflects active inflammation (with or without demyelination) in the human disease.