Novel tubular inclusions in the bone marrow in multiple sclerosis: an ultrastructural study of early autopsy material.

Abstract

Samples of bone marrow taken at early autopsy from patients who died with multiple sclerosis and from control cases, were examined ultrastructurally with the aim of detecting any infectious agents which might be present. No recognizable virus or mycoplasma was detected. However, rare bizarre cellular inclusions were found in 2 cases. The inclusions which are unlike anything previously described in MS consisted of fine (ca 17 nm) sinuous tubules occasionally showing dilated discoid ends. They occurred together with fragmentary electron opaque material in large membrane bound vacuoles in unidentified cells. Despite superficial resemblance to some viral nucleocapsids it is considered more likely that they have been formed as a result of degenerative phagocytic or autolytic activity. The specificity or otherwise of these inclusions to MS remains to be demonstrated.