Summary:
The authors have presented case-reports of two patients with
relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) whose diagnosis of laboratory
supported definite MS (Poser’s criteria) was established about three years
before the appearance of intracranial tumors. Both patients were given
immunomodulating (IFNbeta-1a, Avonex) and immunosuppresive
therapy for a period of various duration. In the case of a 42-year-old man,
the course of MS was complicated with a multifocal tumor in the
suprasellar region and in the left cerebral hemisphere, confirmed by
histology as an astrocytoma, resulting in the patient’s death. In the other
case of a 25-year-old man, there was demonstrated an extensive cystic
expansive process of mesencephalon with a tri-ventricular
hydrocephalus. Only ventriculoperitoneal drainage was carried out
without histological verification of a tumorous formation. Besides
a primary brain neuroplasm, the possibility of metastatic affection (mixed
germ cell tumor) revealed together with the intracranial expansion is not
eliminated in this patient. The co-morbidity of MS and malignant brain
tumors is relatively rare, but not exceptional. A causal relationship
between the two disorders has not been proved so far.
Key words:
co-morbidity, multiple sclerosis, malignant brain tumors,
interferon beta, immunosuppression
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