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| Multiple Sclerosis |
| This page was written by Shelley Ensz, and has not yet been medically edited. See Disclaimer. |
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| Overview of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting movement, sensation, and bodily functions. It is caused by destruction of the myelin insulation covering nerve fibers (neurons) in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). aHealthyMe. |
| A Full Life Is Still Possible with Multiple Sclerosis . Because of improved methods to limit disability, such as physical therapy, and treatments for complications of disability, the life expectancy of individuals with MS is now nearly the same as that of unaffected people. “I tell my patients to make their life decisions as though they didn’t have MS,” Crayton said, emphasizing that patients can have full, productive lives, while working with their health care providers to manage their disease. Karen Young. Society for Women’s Health Research. July 3, 2008. |
| Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis |
| Possible Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Symptoms may include weakness, numbness, pain, disturbances of speech or vision, parasthesias, ataxia, tremor, dizziness, bladder or bowel dysfunction, fatigue, cognitive problems and depression. WebMD. |
| Overlaps with Multiple Sclerosis |
| Co-occurrence of autoimmune thyroid disease in a multiple sclerosis cohort. Multiple sclerosis (MS), Hashimoto's (HT) disease and Graves' disease are autoimmune diseases that may share similar pathogenic mechanisms. The co-occurrence rates and demographic characteristics of Graves' disease and HT in our MS population are compared with the general population. There is a significant co-occurrence in patients with MS and Graves' disease, and a trend to co-occurrence in patients with MS and HT. Journal of Autoimmune diseases 11/09/05. (Also see: Thyroid Disease) |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Linked to Risk of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). People with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher than normal risk for developing multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders, such as asthma, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, psoriasis, bronchitis. WebMD. 09/01/05. (Also see: Bowel Involvement) |
| Riedel's thyroiditis in a patient with multiple sclerosis. The association between MS and Riedel's thyroiditis remains obscure but may reflect an autoimmune disorder common to both diseases. PubMed. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Feb;26(1):67-8. |
| A prospective study of conditions associated with multiple sclerosis in a cohort of 658 consecutive outpatients attending a multiple sclerosis clinic. The MS population had significantly increased rates of asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, pernicious anaemia, autoimmune thyroid disease, uveitis, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, bipolar disorder and melanoma compared to the general population. PubMed. Mult Scler. 2004 Oct;10(5):575-81. |
| Multiple Sclerosis and Glandular Fever |
| Glandular fever and Multiple Sclerosis link more evidence found. The children with MS had double the chance of being infected with the virus that causes glandular fever. Medical News Today 04/22/04. |
| Multiple Sclerosis and Scleroderma |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) sometimes occurs along with systemic scleroderma, or other autoimmune diseases. |
| Multiple sclerosis associated with systemic sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been increasingly reported in association with other autoimmune diseases not primary affected the nervous system. We report here the case of a 46-year-old female patient with longstanding MS since the age of 26, who developed SSc 12 years later. IngentaConnect. Rheumatology International, Vol 27, No 8, June 2007, pp. 771-773(3). (Also see: Multiple Sclerosis ) |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The report highlights the interesting association between MS and SSc that may be due to an overlapping pathogenetic mechanism for both processes. PubMed. Rheumatol Int. 2006 Dec 14. (Also see: Overlap Syndrome ) |
| Lisa W: Diffuse Scleroderma, CREST and Multiple Sclerosis I was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). That also took over a year to diagnose. My doctors tell me that I am one out of millions with this case of bad luck... |
| Causes of Multiple Sclerosis |
| New Research Shows How Chronic Stress Worsens Neurodegenerative Disease Course.The evidence is accumulating on how bad stress is for health. Chronic stress can intensify inflammation and increase a person’s risk for developing central nervous system infections, neurodegenerative diseases, like multiple sclerosis, and other inflammatory diseases, say researchers at the Convention of the American Psychological Association. NewsWise Medical News. 08/17/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Stress ) |
| After a decades-long search, scientists identify new genetic risk factors for multiple sclerosis. A pair of large-scale genetic studies supported by the National Institutes of Health has revealed two genes that influence the risk of getting multiple sclerosis. EurekAlert! 07/29/07. |
| Scientists to unlock genes behind common serious illnesses. The biggest DNA analysis of whole human genomes will shed light on why some people are more at risk of developing a serious illness. They are examining 15,000 markers for genetic variations relating to another four diseases - breast cancer, autoimmune thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Guardian Unlimited. 04/14/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Genetics,Thyroid Disease, and Diabetes ) |
| The Risk Of Multiple Sclerosis May Be Decreased By High Levels Of Vitamin D In The Body. In the first large-scale, prospective study researchers have found an association between higher levels of vitamin D in the body and a lower risk of MS. Medical News Today. 12/31/06. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Vitamin D Deficiency ) |
| Elevated urinary excretion of aluminum and iron in multiple sclerosis. Scientists have discovered the first evidence of a link between human exposure to aluminium and multiple sclerosis, with very high (up to 40 times the control level) urinary excretion of aluminium in MS, particularly so in the relapsing-remitting form of the disease. Keele University UK, 02-17-06. |
| Do Bacteria or Viruses Cause MS? Though it hasn't been clear as to the cause of this immune system miscue, a new study from Switzerland suggests that a certain bacterium or virus may be the culprit. These bacterial infections, the Swiss study team claims, induce a kind of self-recognition that may contribute to some autoimmune diseases such as MS and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). MS Neighborhood. 07/08/05. (Also see: Guillain-Barre ) |
| MS Susceptibility: Scientists Identify the Gene Responsible. Researchers in Sweden found a common risk factor for not only MS, but also ailments like heart disease and rheumatism. This risk factor is a gene that links autoimmune diseases like MS to cardiovascular diseases, the first time such a gene has been identified, say the scientists. MS Neighborhood. 06/10/05. (Also see: Cardiac Involvement) |
| Vitamin D and calcium deficits predispose for multiple chronic diseases. In addition to skeletal disorders, calcium and vitamin D deficits increase the risk of malignancies, particularly of colon, breast and prostate gland, of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (e.g. insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), multiple sclerosis), as well as of metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, hypertension). PubMed. Eur J Clin Invest. 2005 May;35(5):290-304. (Also see: Diabetes and IBD) |
| Asbestos Exposure Might be MS Risk Factor. By demonstrating an association between asbestos exposure and measures of autoimmune responses, this study supports and augments other existing evidence that asbestos is an agent of systemic autoimmunity. MS Neighborhood. 04/22/05. |
| Deadly Disease Linked to Lack of Sunlight-Generated Vitamin D. Two recent scientific studies published or announced within the past two weeks point to the benefit of sun exposure. The studies have linked a lack of exposure to Vitamin D, which is created naturally by sunshine or artificial ultraviolet light, as a significantly increased risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis. Newswise 01/28/04. |
| Genetic Variant May Explain Why Women Develop Multiple Sclerosis More Than Men. The study's lead author, Mayo Clinic neurologist Brian Weinshenker, M.D. says "If you have a gene that produces high levels of interferon gamma, it may predispose you to developing MS. Under this scenario, men get MS less often because they have a lower frequency of a gene variant that is related to higher secretion of interferon gamma." ScienceDaily. 01/30/05. |
| Exposure to Infant Siblings During Early Life and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis. Higher infant sibling exposure in the first 6 years of life was associated with a reduced risk of MS, possibly by altering childhood infection patterns and related immune responses. JAMA. January 26, 2005;293:463-469. |
| Abnormalities in Sex Hormones May Contribute to Brain Damage of Multiple Sclerosis. While the degree of overall brain damage was similar in the men and women, women tended to have more signs of inflammation than men. Previous research by the same team has indicated that there could be a gender difference in the progression of MS, with men tending to have more progressive and severe disease. Doctor's Guide. BMJ. 01/18/05. |
| Treatments and Clinical Trials for Multiple Sclerosis |
| Immune modulation and increased neurotrophic factor production in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with testosterone. Evidence from basic and clinical studies suggests that testosterone has an immunomodulatory as well as a potential neuroprotective effect that could be beneficial in MS. Stefan M Gold. Journal of Neuroinflammation. July 31, 2008. |
| DNA vaccine against multiple sclerosis appears safe, potentially beneficial. A newly developed DNA vaccine appears safe and may produce beneficial changes in the brains and immune systems of individuals with multiple sclerosis. If successful in MS, antigen-specific DNA vaccines can be developed for prevention or treatment of related diseases, such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis. EurekAlert! 08/13/07. |
| Oral Fingolimod (FTY720) for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. In this proof-of-concept study, fingolimod reduced the number of lesions detected on MRI and clinical disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis. New England Journal of Medicine.Volume 355:1124-1140. No.11. 09/14/06. |
| Hopes raised for effectiveness of multiple sclerosis drug. Discovery of the mechanism of a drug being tested for the treatment of multiple sclerosis has revealed that it's not only more effective than first thought, but might also help in the management of other Autoimmune diseases, organ transplant rejection and even cancer. EurekAlert 03/28/06. |
| Psychological interventions for multiple sclerosis (MS). The diversity of psychological interventions identified indicates the many ways in which they can potentially help people with MS. There is reasonable evidence that cognitive behavioural approaches are beneficial in the treatment of depression, and in helping people adjust to, and cope with MS. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006 Issue 1. |
| Experimental MS Drug Moves Forward in Clinical Trials. FTY720, manufactured by Novartis, demonstrated positive results in a Phase 2 trial, whose findings were released at a medical conference overseas earlier this month. MS Neighborhood. 10/21/05. |
| Search for new multiple sclerosis drug. UT Southwestern Medical Center is the lead research site testing a new treatment for a rare form of multiple sclerosis. "Rituxan works on a component of the immune system called B-cells," Dr. Hawker said. "The drug depletes B-cells and has been used to treat other autoimmune diseases such as lupus." News-Medical.Net 04/26/05. |
| Weight Training Gives MS Patients Physical, Emotional Benefits. Lifting weights can improve muscle strength and quality of life for people afflicted with the degenerative disease multiple sclerosis, a new University of Florida study finds. The study, published in the December issue of the journal Multiple Sclerosis, showed that after eight weeks of supervised resistance training on conventional gym equipment, eight MS patients had stronger muscles, could walk better, and reported less overall fatigue and disability. Newswise. 01/13/05. |
| Multiple Sclerosis Research |
| Glucosamine-like dietary supplement suppresses autoimmune response in multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes mellitus. A glucosamine-like dietary supplement has been found to suppress the damaging autoimmune response seen in multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes mellitus, according to Univerisity of California, Irvine health sciences researchers. News-Medical Net. 05/16/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: T cells and Diabetes ) |
| Effects of Glatiramer Acetate (GA) and Interferon-ß on Neurodegeneration in a Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Although early GA or IFN-ß-1b treatment showed benefit on disease activity, only treatment with GA exerted protective effects on retinal ganglion cells. American Journal of Pathology. 2006;169:1353-1364. |
| Investigational MS Medicine Targets Immune Regulators. A drug that targets compounds that direct the movement of damage-causing immune cells in the central nervous system is about to be scrutinized in a new clinical trial. Additional studies to test the effectiveness of the drug in atherosclerosis and a tissue disease known as scleroderma are also being planned. MS Neighborhood. 07/22/05. |
| Non-Invasive MS Test Proposed. Doctors in a new preliminary study are proposing a non-invasive way to measure disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis. They contend that tests to determine the presence of MS can be just as effective by collecting samples of saliva as they are collecting samples of cerebrospinal fluid (as in a spinal tap). MS Neighborhood. 06/24/05. |
| Steroids and brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. It appears that chronic low-dose treatment with corticosteroids may contribute to irreversible loss of brain tissue in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Evidence is mounting that high-dose corticosteroids may induce reversible short-term brain volume changes. Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate pathogenetic mechanisms contributing to brain volume fluctuations in autoimmune diseases and multiple sclerosis. PubMed. J Neurol Sci. 2005 May 5. (Also see: Brain Involvement and Medications) |
| Research: Causes of Multiple Sclerosis |
| Molecule linked to autoimmune disease relapses identified at Stanford. The study lays the groundwork for a way to determine when a relapse is about to occur, and could eventually lead to a treatment to prevent relapses. SpiritIndia.com. Dec 06. (Also see: B and T cells and Autoimmunity ) |
| Neurons In CNS Can Regulate Immune System And Suppress Inflammatory Conditions Of CNS. The neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) are reported to have a previously unknown ability to regulate the immune system and suppress inflammatory conditions of the CNS. This pioneering discovery paves the way for future therapeutic targets for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of CNS like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. Medical News Today. 04/27/06. |
| Evidence that Pregnancy Specific Glycoproteins Regulate T-Cell Function and Inflammatory Autoimmune Disease During Pregnancy. The capacity of the pregnancy state to regulate T-cell function is well documented. A consequence of this regulation is that many T-cell mediated autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS) are suppressed during pregnancy. The regulation of T-cell function during pregnancy is likely the result of significant hormonal changes and may well involve immunoregulatory proteins derived from the placenta. PubMed. Curr Drug Targets Inflamm Allergy. 2005 Apr;4(2):231-7. (Also see: Pregnancy and Scleroderma and Causes of Scleroderma: T Cells) |
| Personal Stories About Multiple Sclerosis or Difficult Diagnosis |
| Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and scleroderma can be very difficult to properly diagnose, particularly in the early stages of illness. Many of these stories regard onset of scleroderma during which time MS was considered as a possible diagnosis. (Also see: Difficult Diagnosis) |
| Boo: CREST Scleroderma Finally in 1994, it was labeled as CREST syndrome, which is a form of systemic scleroderma... |
| Beverly: CREST Scleroderma I was overtired and needed naps in the afternoon, pain was slowly getting the better of me and I finally went to the doctor... |
| Carla: CREST Syndrome and Fibromyalgia When I read some of these stories, they scare the devil out of me. Is this really that bad?... |
| Cindy Fuchs-Morrissey: Mother of a Progressive Systemic Sclerosis Child Hilary has an aggressive form of scleroderma with swallowing problems, bowel problems, fatigue, acral bone dysplasia of the hands and feet... |
| Debbie: CREST Here's a copy of a letter I sent to my rheumatologist.... |
| Kathi: Scleroderma/Lupus I am forty-three years old and have not been feeling well for ten years... |
| Krisha S: Multiple Autoimmune Condition I have multiple sclerosis (MS), fibromyalgia, and Stiff Person Syndrome... |
| Lisa W: Diffuse Scleroderma, CREST and Multiple Sclerosis I was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). That also took over a year to diagnose. My doctors tell me that I am one out of millions with this case of bad luck... |
| McKenzie: Scleroderma with CREST I felt numbness crept down both my legs. I said, "I can't feel my legs!" and sat down on the floor... |
| Nan: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Fibromyalgia Finally after several years of struggle, one wonderful doctor at OSU got gutsy and gave me the MCTD diagnosis... |
| Support for Multiple Sclerosis |
| (U.S.) National Multiple Sclerosis Society The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the devastating effects of MS. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. |
| Media Stories About Multiple Sclerosis |
| Parasite infection may benefit MS patients. Because parasites inhabit their hosts for long periods of time, they can develop molecules that generate strong anti-inflammatory responses, which enhance their survival. Further investigation is warranted in order to identify which molecules cause immune system effects that dampen the inflammatory reactions normally seen in autoimmune diseases. EurekAlert! 01/17/07. |
| No link between birth order and risk for MS. A genetic predisposition and other factors - not exposure or lack of exposure to germs from an older sibling - are more likely behind the onset of multiple sclerosis. CTV.ca 08/23/05. |
| Promising Multiple Sclerosis treatments on the way. "Tovaxin is a fascinating concept," said Dr. Edward Fox, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Central Texas in Austin. "It's basically a way of immunizing yourself against your own bad blood cells. It's much more a magic bullet." IndiaDaily. 04/13/05. |
