Balo’s concentric sclerosis: is it pathogenic subtype of Multiple Sclerosis or distinct disorder?

Balo’s concentric sclerosis is a monophase demyelinating disease characterized by alternating rings of demyelinated and myelinated axons, and it is most frequently diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. At the present time Balo’s sclerosis is discussed in case of MRI detection of two or more concentric areas of demyelination, one or more ring of that is enhanced by the contrast. For 100-year period of the study there are 4 main theory of pathogenesis of Balo’s sclerosis: theory of concentric demyelination, theory of distal oligodendrocytopathy, colloid theory and theory of astrocytopathy. None of the theories includes all details of the disease. One of the details is concentric lesions in monophasic Balo sclerosis and in Balo-like syndromes in chronic demyelinating disorders. In case of Balo’s sclerosis and Balo-like syndromes probability of resistant to immunosuppressiv therapy is very high. So glucocorticosteroid therapy must be initiated right after concentric demyelination determination on MRI. In case of ineffectiveness of glucocorticosteroid therapy plasmapheresis and cytostatic therapy could be applied.