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Understanding Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the CNS, causing symptoms like numbness, weakness, and impaired vision. Learn about the stages, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of MS.

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Understanding Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis

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  1. Multiple Sclerosis Jesse Mohoric and Sarah Davis

  2. Definition • Chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects brain, optic nerves and spinal cord • Autoimmune disorder caused by destruction of myelin sheath surrounding nerves in the CNS

  3. More Specifically… With MS, immune cells attack myelin sheath, leaving it inflamed, damaged, or detached • This causes sclerosed (hardened) patches of scar tissue over nerve • Purpose of myelin sheath is to protect and conduct nerve impulses • When myelin sheath is damaged, it blocks or delays conduction of nerve signals

  4. Possible Causes • Exact reason is unknown • Virus triggers reaction against body’s own tissues • Genes, environmental factors, viruses, or a combination of these factors • 5% have sibling with MS • 15% have relative with MS

  5. Signs and Symptoms • Generally occur in episodes that last weeks or months • Numbness, weakness, or paralysis in one or more limbs • Brief pain, tingling or electric shock sensations • Impaired vision w/pain during movement in one eye • Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait • Double vision or rapid, involuntary eye movement • Fatigue and/or dizziness

  6. Stages of MS • Benign: mild to moderate Sxs that don’t worsen or lead to permanent disability • Relapsing-remitting: 1-2 flare-ups every 1-3 yrs; Sxs may increase w/ each recurrence • Primary progressive: progressive Sxs w/o acute attacks or periods of remission • Secondary progressive: slow but continuous deterioration • Progressive relapsing: primary progressive MS w/ addition of sudden episodes of new or worsened Sxs

  7. Diagnosis • Difficult to diagnose in initial stages because Sxs are variable and could be caused by many different disorders • MRI to observe plaque on CNS • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to measure levels of immune proteins • Conduction tests to see how quickly nerves are sending signals

  8. Treatment • No known cure • Wait-and-see approach for mild attacks • Medications • Corticosteroids: relieve immediate symptoms • Immunosuppresant drugs to prevent relapses • Beta interferons: fight viral infection and regulate immune system • Physical and occupational therapy • Bee venom

  9. Prognosis • Most people can function for many years after diagnosis • On avg., MS shortens lives of affected women by 6 yrs. and men by 11 yrs. • Suicide is significant cause of death

  10. Prevention • No way to prevent MS • To improve quality of life and reduce symptoms: • Good nutrition • Adequate rest • Avoidance of stress, heat, and extreme physical exertion • Good bladder hygiene

  11. Works Cited Litin, S.C. (Ed.). (2005). Mayo clinic family health book. New York, New York: HarperCollins. Beers, M.H. (Ed.). (2003). Merck manual of medication information. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research laboratories. Longe, J.L. (Ed.). (2002). The gale encyclopedia of medicine. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group.

  12. Work Cited for Pictures http://www.sfn.org/skins/main/images/brainbriefings/ms_illus.gif http://www.multiple-sclerosis101.com/Multiple-Sclerosis.jpg http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/wp-content/2645.JPG http://d.yimg.com/origin1.lifestyles.yahoo.com/ls/he/healthwise/h9991221.jpg http://www.hhs.oregonstate.edu/nes/multiple-sclerosis/1_web.jpg http://www.holy-family.org/images/Services/Multiple_Sclerosis.jpg

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