Multiple sclerosis Flashcards
What is multiple sclerosis?
MS is an autoimmune disease, in which T-cells react myelin and cause degradation and inflammation. Degradation of oligodenrocytes leads to less support for neurons.
What is the most common variantion of MS?
Relapsing remitting MS, where inflammation keeps coming back, but there is a short healing period after.
What is often the second stage of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis?
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
What are the main brain areas causing the clinical features of multiple sclerosis?
The cerebral hemisphere, brain stem, cerebellun and the spinal cord
How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?
1) Symptoms and neurological signs compatible with MS
2) An MRI will show white matter lesions in multiple areas
3) Check IgG-levels in cerebrospinal fluid
4) Exclusion of other causes
What is the focus of multiple sclerosis treatment?
Decreasing the autoimmunerespons, to avoid more damage to the oligodendrocytes ect.
What is the function of glatiramer acetate, used in multiple sclerosis treatment?
It is an antigen mimicking the antigen on myelin, causing immune cells to target it instead.
What virus increases the risk of multiple sclerosis?
The Epstein Barr virus (EBV)
When does multiple sclerosis symptoms start to appear? How do they progress?
They usually start between age 20-40.
Often systemically driven relapses.
There are different types of progression courses.
What is the result of inflammation in multiple sclerosis?
Oedema (reversible)
Demyelination (reversible in time)
Axonal damage (irreversible)
What are the risk factors for multiple sclerosis?
1) Higher in females (2:1)
2) Scandinacian or celtic ethnicity
3) MS in the family
4) Late EBV infection
5) Lack of childhood vitamin D
6) Smoking
7) Spring birth
What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Muscle weakness, sensory symptoms, optic neuritis, paralisis of limbs or face, hearing loss, vertigo, eye; mouth; tongue; throat; muscle paralisis, ataxia (poor muscle control), problems with urinary bladder; bowel; sex function, speech distrubances
