Activation of innate immune cells and other compartmentalized inflammatory cells in the brains and spinal cords of people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and progressive MS has been well described histopathologically. However, conventional clinical MRI is largely insensitive to this inflammatory activity. The past two decades have seen the introduction of quantitative dynamic MRI scanning with contrast agents that are sensitive to the reduction in blood-brain barrier integrity associated with inflammation and to the trafficking of inflammatory myeloid cells. New MRI imaging sequences provide improved contrast for better detection of grey matter lesions. Quantitative lesion volume measures and magnetic resonance susceptibility imaging are sensitive to the activity of macrophages in the rims of white matter lesions. PET and magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods can also be used to detect contributions from innate immune activation in the brain and spinal cord. Some of these advanced research imaging methods for visualization of chronic inflammation are practical for relatively routine clinical applications. Observations made with the use of these techniques suggest ways of stratifying patients with MS to improve their care. The imaging methods also provide new tools to support the development of therapies for chronic inflammation in MS.

中文翻译：

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多发性硬化症中的慢性炎症-看到总是存在的东西。

复发-缓解型多发性硬化症（MS）和进行性MS的人的大脑和脊髓中先天免疫细胞和其他分区性炎性细胞的激活已在组织病理学上得到了很好的描述。但是，常规的临床MRI对这种炎症活动非常不敏感。在过去的二十年中，采用了对造影剂定量动态MRI扫描，这种造影剂对与炎症相关的血脑屏障完整性的降低以及对炎症性髓样细胞的运输敏感。新的MRI成像序列可提供更好的对比度，以更好地检测灰质病变。定量病变体积测量和磁共振敏感性成像对白质病变边缘的巨噬细胞活性敏感。PET和磁共振波谱法也可用于检测大脑和脊髓中先天性免疫激活的作用。这些用于慢性炎症可视化的高级研究成像方法中的某些方法对于相对常规的临床应用是实用的。使用这些技术的观察结果提出了对MS患者进行分层以改善其护理的方法。成像方法还提供了支持MS慢性炎症治疗方法开发的新工具。使用这些技术的观察结果提出了对MS患者进行分层以改善其护理的方法。成像方法还提供了支持MS慢性炎症治疗方法开发的新工具。使用这些技术的观察结果提出了对MS患者进行分层以改善其护理的方法。成像方法还提供了支持MS慢性炎症治疗方法开发的新工具。