Abstract

The aim of the study is the evaluation cervical and thoracal disc herniations are predisposant factor to the formation and activation of plaques formation of relapsing remitting (R-R ) type multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We performed a retrospective study on R-R type MS diagnosed patients who also had cervical and thoracal disc herniations. 185 cervical and 136 thoracic ın total 321 MR images of 104 (42 men, 62 women) MS patients with R-R type were evaluated retrogradly. When we evaluate the association between cervical or thoracal disc herniation and MS plaques we determined the same localization of cervical herniation and MS plaques was statistically significant. In conclusion, cervical and thoracic disc herniations may contribute to distrupion of blood brain barrier by generating microtraumas and this may lead to MS plaque formation. Therefore, early and effective treatment of MS patients having disc compression is crucial for preventing from sequels and for providing a better life quality.

Key words: Multiple Sclerosis, cervical disc herniations, thoracal disc herniations, spinal cord compression