| Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease | | | | exhibit paresthesias, transitory abnormal |
| and affects the central nervous system. | | | | sensory feelings such as numbness, prickling, |
| Central nervous system is made up of nerves | | | | or "pins and needles" sensations. Some may |
| that act as the body's messenger system. It | | | | also experience pain. Speech impediments, |
| damages the myelin sheath, the material that | | | | tremors, and dizziness are other frequent |
| surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This | | | | complaints. Occasionally, people with MS have |
| damage slows down or blocks messages between | | | | hearing loss. Approximately half of all |
| your brain and your body. Multiple sclerosis | | | | people with MS experience cognitive |
| (MS) usually affects woman more than men. The | | | | impairments such as difficulties with |
| disorder most commonly begins between ages 20 | | | | concentration, attention, memory, and poor |
| and 40, but can strike at any age. Multiple | | | | judgment, but such symptoms are usually mild |
| sclerosis affects neurons, the cells of the | | | | and are frequently overlooked. Subsequent |
| brain and spinal cord that carry information, | | | | symptoms also include more prominent upper |
| create thought and perception, and allow the | | | | motor neuron signs, i.e.,. increased |
| brain to control the body. Surrounding and | | | | spasticity, increasing para- or |
| protecting some of these neurons is a fatty | | | | quardriparesis. Vertigo, incoordination and |
| layer known as the myelin sheath, which helps | | | | other cerebellar problems, depression, |
| neurons carry electrical signals. MS causes | | | | emotional lability, abnormalities in gait, |
| gradual destruction of myelin (demyelination) | | | | dysarthria, fatigue and pain are also |
| and transection of neuron axons in patches | | | | commonly seen. |
| throughout the brain and spinal cord. The | | | | |
| name multiple sclerosis refers to the | | | | Multiple sclerosis is difficult to diagnose |
| multiple scars (or scleroses) on the myelin | | | | in its early stages. Several types of |
| sheaths. This scarring causes symptoms which | | | | therapy have proven to be helpful for |
| vary widely depending upon which signals are | | | | multiple sclerosis. Medications can help ease |
| interrupted. Multiple sclerosis may take | | | | MS attacks and possibly slow the disease. The |
| several different forms, with new symptoms | | | | goal of treatment is to control symptoms and |
| occurring either in discrete attacks or | | | | maintain a normal quality of life. Many |
| slowly accruing over time. Between attacks, | | | | patients do well with no therapy at all, |
| symptoms may resolve completely, but | | | | especially since many medications have |
| permanent neurologic problems often persist, | | | | serious side effects and some carry |
| especially as the disease advances. MS | | | | significant risks. Interferon beta-1b |
| currently does not have a cure, though | | | | (Betaseron) and interferon beta-1a (Avonex, |
| several treatments are available that may | | | | Rebif) are genetically engineered copies of |
| slow the appearance of new symptoms. MS is | | | | proteins that occur naturally in your body. |
| believed to result from damage to the myelin | | | | They help fight viral infection and regulate |
| sheath, the protective material which | | | | your immune system. Glatiramer is synthetic |
| surrounds nerve cells. It is a progressive | | | | medication made of four amino acids that are |
| disease, meaning the damage gets worse over | | | | found in myelin. This drug stimulates T cells |
| time. Inflammation destroys the myelin, | | | | in the body's immune system to change from |
| leaving multiple areas of scar tissue | | | | harmful, pro-inflammatory agents to |
| (sclerosis). The inflammation occurs when the | | | | beneficial, anti-inflammatory agents that |
| body's own immune cells attack the nervous | | | | work to reduce inflammation at lesion sites. |
| system. | | | | Natalizumab (Tysabri) drug is administered |
| | | | intravenously once a month. It works by |
| MS gets its name from the buildup of scar | | | | blocking the attachment of immune cells to |
| tissue (sclerosis) in the brain and/or spinal | | | | brain blood vessels - a necessary step for |
| cord. Symptoms of MS may mimic many other | | | | immune cells to cross into the brain - thus |
| neurologic disorders. Multiple sclerosis | | | | reducing the immune cells' inflammatory |
| affects an estimated 300,000 people in the | | | | action on brain nerve cells. During clinical |
| United States and probably more than 1 | | | | trials, this drug was shown to significantly |
| million people around the world. Signs and | | | | reduce the frequency of attacks in people |
| symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely, | | | | with relapsing MS. Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) |
| depending on the location of affected nerve | | | | is a chemotherapy drug used for many cancers. |
| fibers. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, | | | | It's given intravenously, typically every |
| including changes in sensation | | | | three months. Muscle relaxants. Baclofen |
| (hypoesthesia), muscle weakness, abnormal | | | | (Lioresal) and tizanidine (Zanaflex) are oral |
| muscle spasms, or difficulty to move; | | | | treatments for muscle spasticity. If you have |
| difficulties with coordination and balance | | | | multiple sclerosis, you may experience muscle |
| (ataxia); problems in speech (Dysarthria) or | | | | stiffening or spasms, particularly in your |
| swallowing (Dysphagia), visual problems | | | | legs, which can be painful and |
| (Nystagmus, optic neuritis, or diplopia), | | | | uncontrollable. Baclofen may temporarily |
| fatigue and acute or chronic pain syndromes, | | | | increase weakness in your legs. Tizanidine |
| bladder and bowel difficulties, cognitive | | | | controls muscle spasms without causing your |
| impairment, or emotional symptomatology | | | | legs to feel weak, but can be associated with |
| (mainly depression). Most people with MS also | | | | drowsiness or a dry mouth. |