Blood-brain barrier changes in multiple sclerosis.

We review the salient published data suggesting blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). We focus attention specifically on: 1) the cerebral microvessel involvement in demyelination plaques, 2) the presence of dynamic changes in BBB permeability depending on the phase of the disease course, 3) the primary role of cerebral endothelial cells in the development of the intracerebral immune response.