Multiple Sclerosis Flashcards
What part of the nervous system does MS affect?
CNS
What is MS a disease of?
White matter
Pathology of MS
Demyelination / inflammation
Myelin sheath around the nerves become inflamed during an attack or relapse
What do symptoms of MS depend on?
Where the inflammation has occurred in the brain or spinal cord
Pathology of demyelination
Autoimmune process
Activated T cells cross BBB causing demyelination
Acute inflammation of myelin sheath
How can lesions of plaques be seen in MS?
MRI scan = white areas
What can be looked at on an MRI to determine progression of MS?
Black holes - axonal loss
Later seen as cerebral atrophy
Which gender gets MS more?
F > M
How do 80% of cases of MS present?
With a relapse
Features of initial presentation of MS
Gradual onset over a few days
Stabilises days to weeks
Gradual resolution to complete or partial recovery
Where in the CNS can relapses occur?
Anywhere
Examples of possible symptoms of a relapse
Visual
- Optic Neuritis
- Optic atrophy
- Uhthoff’s phenomenon (worsening of vision following rise in body temp)
- internuclear ophthalmoplegia
Sensory symptoms
- pins and needles
- numbness
- trigeminal neuralgia
- Lhermittes syndrome; paraesthesia in limbs on neck flexion
Motor
- spastic weakness (especially in legs)
Cerebellar
- ataxia (more often seen in acute relapse as opposed to a presenting symptom)
- tremor
Urinary incontinence
Sexual dysfunction
Intellectual deterioration
Presentation of optic/retrobulbar neuritis
Subacute visual loss Pain on moving eye Colour vision disturbed Initial swelling optic disc Optic atrophy seen later Relative afferent pupillary defect - pupil dilates when shining a light on it
Causes of optic neuritis
MS Neuromyelitis optica Sarcoidosis Ischaemic optic neuropathy Toxic / drugs B12 deficiency Wegeners granulomatosis Local compression Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy
If there was a brainstem relapse, what possible symptoms might be seen?
Cranial nerve involvement Pons - internuclear opthalmoplegia Cerebellum e.g. ataxia, vertigo, nystagmus UMN changes in limbs Sensory involvement e.g. weakness
What is myelitis?
Inflammation of the spinal cord
Presentation of myelitis
Ascending pins and needles in feet / arms to torso over a few days / a week or two
Partial or transverse (complete)
Sensory level
Weakness/UMN changes below level
May be unable to weight bound at all
Bladder and bowel involvement (constipation)
Differential diagnosis for myelitis
Infection
Tumour
Inflammation
Is it possible to have an isolated episode of demyelination?
Yes
Criteria of demyelination episodes to have MS
Episodes of demyelination disseminated in space and time
Has to occur in different parts of the nervous system
Features of the progressive phase of MS
Accumulation of symptoms and signs - fatigue, temp sensitivity - sensory - stiffness or spasms - balance, slurred speech - swallowing - bladder and bowel - diplopia / oscillopsia / visual loss - cognitive - dementia/emotional lability Not able to walk far Have to use a stick Need help for the toilet
What antibodies are seen in devics disease (neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder)?
Aquaporin 4 antibodies
Features of devics disease
Particularly affects
- Optic neuritis
- Myelitis
Treatment of devics disease
Immunosuppression
Associations to causes of MS
Complex genetic inheritance
Autoimmune assosiations
Commoner in temperature climate
Age
How many people with MS never have their ADL affected?
1/4
How many people with MS become severely disabled quickly?
15%
Good prognostic indicators for MS
Female
Present with optic neuritis
Long interval between 1st and 2nd relapse
Few relapses in 1st 5 years
Bad prognostic indicators for MS
Male
Older age
Multifocal symptoms and signs
Motor symptoms and signs
Things in life MS can affect
Work Family Pregnancy Sexual function Bladder and bowel function
Is there a cure for MS?
No
What are the two criterias that can diagnose MS?
Posers criteria (clinical) Macdonald criteria (MRI)