Day 5 - Multiple Sclerosis Flashcards
Definition & Pathology of MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) due to immune-mediated inflammation & formation of hallmark white matter plaques → demyelination, relative axonal sparing, and brain atrophy.
Acute lesions: remyelination may occur, which results in a “remission.”
Chronic lesions: older plaques become sclerosed
Four main types of disease course in MS 🔑
Relapsing-remitting (RR MS)
The most common pattern: 85% to 90% begin with RR MS
Return to baseline or mild disability
Secondary progressive (SP MS)
50% of RRMS convert to SPMS after 10 years; 90% after 25 years
Primary progressive (PP MS)
10% of cases at disease onset & worst prognosis
Progressive Relapsing (RP MS)
Clinically Isolated Syndrome
- A first attack compatible with MS, with evidence of inflammation and demyelination
- Typically lasts a minimum of 24 hours
- Does not yet meet criteria for MS
MS commonly seen in
- Females > males 2:1
- Mean onset age 30
- Low vitamin D
Good vs Poor Prognostic Indicators 🔑
Ibn Sina “Good”: Female, ambulatory, young, optic, good recovery, RR..
- Female sex, Younger age at onset (less than 35 years of age)
- Monosymptomatic
- Sensory optic neuritis
- Sudden, good recovery with long remission (RR type)
- Low disability
- Ambulatory
Poor
- Male sex, Older at onset (age more than 35 years)
- Polysymptomatic
- Motor (first sign) ataxia and tremor
- Rapidly progressive
- High disability
- Non-ambulatory
List 6 Diagnostic Workup (Non-Blood) 🔑🔑
- MRI of the brain and spinal cord (Test of choice)
- CSF analysis (Lumbar puncture) → oligoclonal banding
- Visual evoked potentials (VEPs)
- Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs)
- Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs)
- NCS & EMG
Ref: Cucurollo
List 5 Hallmark location of demyelination 🔑
Dissemination in space, lesion in two out of five areas:
- Cortical
- Juxtacortical
- Periventricular
- Infratentorial (Cerebellar)
- Spinal Cord
Extra
- Brain stem
- Optic nerve
List 6 Differential Diagnosis of MS 🔑
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Vasculitis
- Vitamin B 12 deficiency
- Transverse myelitis
3 Most Prevalent Symptoms of MS
3 Problems Affecting ADLs Reported by Patients
Most Prevalent Symptoms of MS
- Fatigue (central in nature)
- Pain: Dysesthetic; painful spasms most common
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
Problems Affecting ADLs Reported by Patients
- Fatigue (central in nature)
- Weakness
- Balance
Five Domains of Motor Symptoms in MS, What to examine?
- Fatigue
- Spasticity
- Weakness
- Balance
- Cerebellum: DANISHP
- Dorsal columns: impairment of deep sensation, and proprioception
- Bulbar
- Dysarthira
- Dysphagia
Five Domains of Non-motor Symptoms in MS, What to ask?
Cognition: memory, attention, processing speed, learning
Cranial Nerves
- Optic n. Optic neuritis
- CN 3,4,6 : diplopia, internuclear ophthalmoplegia
- CN 5: Facial numbness
- CN 8: Deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, vomiting
- CN 9,10,11: Dysphagia
Sensory
- Pain: Dysesthetic; painful spasms
- Heat sensitivity (Uhthoff phenomenon)
Bladder, bowel dysfunction
Bed Questions
Sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), restless legs syndrome
Mood: impaired emotional responses, depression
Sexual dysfunction
List 4 Common Signs in MS🔑
- Lhermitte’s sign
Passive neck flexion causing an electric, shock-like sensation radiating to the spine and
shoulders → Increased sensitivity of the myelin to stretch or traction.
- Uhtoff’s phenomenon
Exacerbation of fatigue, weakness and other symptoms when exposed to high temperatures or increased body temperature
- Tic douloureux
Painful trigeminal neuralgia
- Upper motor neuron signs
Spasticity, Hyperreflexia, Positive Hoffman and Babinski responses
Acute Attacks Tx for MS
Methylprednisolone (1g for 3-7 days)
Decrease length of exacerbation and return to pre-morbid function
Does not prevent further attacks or alter disease progression
Acute and chronic S/E of corticosteroid
Acute
- Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbance
- Fluid retention
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Mood swings
- Insomnia
- Acne
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypertension
Chronic
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Weight gain
- Cataracts
List 4 disease modifying agents for MS
Oral
- FINGOLIMOD (GILENYA)
- DIMETHYL FUMARATE (TECFIDERA)
- TERIFLUNOMIDE (AUBAGIO)
IV for okra beef
- NATALIZUMAB (TYSABRI)
- OCRELIZUMAB (OCREVUS)
- ALEMTUZUMAB (LEMTRADA)
S/C for Seron
- INTERFERON BETA-1B (BETASERON)
List 3 common side effects for MS disease modifying agents? 🔑
Reduction of immune system:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Post-injection fatigue.
- Skin reactions