Multiple Sclerosis

Question 1

Cause of symptoms in MS?

Answer 1

Inflammation and disruption of myelin in CNS

Question 2

Types of MS symptoms?

Answer 2

Visual
Motor
Sensory
Cognitive and psychiatric
Bowel/bladder
Sexual

Question 3

Duration of onset of symptoms?

Answer 3

Hours to days

Question 4

Recovery duration from symptoms?

Answer 4

Days to months

Question 5

Diagnosis of MS?

Answer 5

MRI scan - multiple areas of hyper intense signal (white spots)
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis - Increased production of Ig in CSF, oligoclonal bands

Question 6

Clinical subtypes of MS?

Answer 6

Relapsing-remitting
Primary progressive
Secondary progressive

Question 7

What is relapsing-remitting MS?

Answer 7

Complete recovery from relapses (remittance)

Incomplete recovery from relapses

Question 8

What is primary progressive MS?

Answer 8

Increased disability with no recovery

Question 9

What is secondary progressive MS?

Answer 9

Relapses with increased worsening of disability and recovery

Question 10

Usual presentation age?

Answer 10

20 to 40

Question 11

More frequent in males or females?

Answer 11

Females

Question 12

Typical clinical course of MS?

Answer 12

Begins as relapsing-remitting MS

Moves on to progressive

Question 13

Treatments and goals of treatment?

Answer 13

Immuno-modulatory/immuno-suppressive treatments aimed at reducing relapses
Other symptom-specific treatments to attenuate (minimise) symptoms (pain etc)