New lesions can appear on spine without symptomsPublished: 10 February 2021 A new study has found that asymptomatic damage to spinal nerves happens even in clinically stable multiple sclerosis (MS) cases, and increases the risk for further lesions. When myelin damage occurs in places with tightly packed nerve fibres, such as the spinal cord, the risk of disability increases. But research is starting to show that lesions can appear in this area without worsening or new MS symptoms. As yet, a firm link between the asymptomatic loss of myelin in the spinal cord and increasing disability has not been proven. But the findings suggest that perhaps patients with clinically stable MS should be monitored with MRI scans of the spine to check for asymptomatic progression. A previous study found that finding spinal lesions in a patient between one and three years after MS symptoms developed correlated with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores 15 years later. Other Stories You May Be Interested In... News Antibodies detected in blood of 10% of MS patients years before diagnosis View article News Stroke risk higher in people with MS, study finds View article News Subcutaneous Ocrevus shows almost complete suppression of relapses View article