I recently had an MRI and the results showed microvascular disease. I have been trying to look it up but Iam still not sure what it is. I have to go for more blood work. The techs. that did the MRI are saying it could be from Lyme, lupus (which I was already checked for) or Ms. They feel Ms is the most unlikely. Anyone out there with info. on this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks, Sheila

cadsil disease, a leukodystrophy, is a genetic disease involving the destruction of microscopic vessels deep in the brain. A genetic defect causes the vessel walls to lose integrity and the result is multiple strokes and a lot of brain damage. An MRI does not show the vessel damage, tho, so I don't know what they saw.Cadasil damages can be best seen by an electron microscope at autopsy. The disease is best Dxd by a genetic test. Cadsil is rare affecting 400 families world wide and sysmptoms are migranes and strokes. if you search for "vascular dementia" diseases, I think you'll have better luck getting good information. Good luck.

Thank you for replying. Iam trying to get an appointment with a neurologist. They gave me one for Dec. 12. But since the doctor said my blood vessels are drying up, shinking or what ever Iam pushing for a date, more like yesterday!! Everything I looked up about this seems to lead to diabeites. My sugars were a little high last year but I don't have diabeties. All I know is the MRI, without contrast, showed microvascular disease.

lowering homocysteine levels, C-reactive protein results, and using
fish oil to improve microvascular functioning:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...654f019c6ce59a

Thank you Mrs. D for the information on omega 3.

I saw a neurologist that said for someone my age I had too many leisons on by brain. I am 42 years old. The MRI states; multiple few millimeter subcortical areas of T2 hyperintensity in both cerebral hemispheres. The neurologist is sending me for another MRI with contrast and also an MRI of the neck with contrast. The MRI I had done last week suggested that MS should be considered, but there is no involvement of the corpus callosum to suggest MS. My lyme test came back negative as well as the ANA. Has anyone had or heard of someone else haveing a similar experienc? I feel a little like my world is slowly crumbling around me. THis all started because a doctor finaly thought to check my b12 level, which was 209. Now it is 1040 so I guess I can rule out low b12 as the cause of the leisons, or not??

THanks Michael for the info. on CADISAl. If this MRI rules out MS the doctor wants to test my spinal fluid. If that come out negative for MS and Lyme I am going to ask them to look into cadisal.

It depends on when the lesions formed.

If they formed when you were low on B12 is very likely due to B12 deficiency.
If they are active lesions that have formed since getting the B12 up, it is almost surely something else.

Either way, you gotta keep the B12 up.

rose

I have been continuing to take 3000 methly B12 everyday or everyother day or so. I also take lots of other vitamins and supplements. My lowest level was 209 in June. Now my level has gone up to 1040. Maybe I just have a problem with converting b12 from food. Anyway my question is this: My level at 1040 is that what is actually in my body or just floating around in my blood? Is there a test to see what the actual level is or if your body is able to absorb it properly? Iam going to have a MRI of my brain and neck on Tuesday. If thet come out inconclusive for MS the neurologist wants to test the fluid in my spine for MS and Lyme. If those are clear should I push to see if this is all related to B12? My family seems to have some kind of problem absorbing from food. I already had HCY, MMA and intrinsic factor all are negative. ANA and celiac panel came back negative. I do not know if the leasion are old or new. I will have to ask if they can tell just be looking at the MRI.

If you did not stop taking the B12 a couple of days before the test sample was drawn, it is measuring B12 that is in the blood and does not indicate storage.

However, either way you are absorbing it, otherwise your blood level wouldn't have increased so substantially.

If you stopped taking B12 a few days before the test sample was taken, you have a good indication that you built up stores strong. Now you must keep them that way.

It appears, from what you have been taking and what your test indicates that it is very likely you malabsorb severely. Sometimes when family members malabsorb from food, some in the next generation will progress more quickly to severe malabsorption. That may be what has happened, but, regardless, you need the large doses.

If I remember correctly, you had the MMA and HCY tests AFTER beginning the B12. In that case, they would almost surely be normal even if one or both had been high due to B12 deficiency.

Testing for intrinsic factor is not perfect, and it is also possible that you still have some but are losing it.

If I remember correctly, and MRI with contrast can show new and old lesions. If a new lesion formed after you got a good deal of B12 in you, I would think something else caused it.

I hope nothing else is going on, but either way keep up your B12.

Best wishes,

rose

I had the MRI of the brain and cervecal spine. There are no new findings of the one of the brain (except they mentioned migrain disorder) and the neck showed degenerative disc disease at C6-C7. Now the neurologist wants to do a lumbar puncture and test my spinal fluid for MS and LYME. From what I have researched it is very hard to tell which a person actually has. I will have the spinal fluid tested next week. If that comes back inconclusive I have know idea what the next step is.