Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

3067 Words13 Pages
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the demyelinating disease known as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It will establish a detailed description, causes and risk factors associated with the disease, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and the prognosis of this condition. There will be an exploration into the details of MS and how it came to be today that radiologists rely so heavily on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for establishing an accurate diagnosis. This paper also offers a look at the lack of understanding regarding this disease and demonstrates how we still do not know everything about MS or even how it chooses its host. Multiple sclerosis is a condition that can be challenging to diagnose…show more content…
MS has been linked to some interesting genetic factors with strong statistical evidence to support these findings. Gender has been found to be a possible factor as “MS affects women two to three times as often as men” (Brust, J. 2012). Age is also important to note that while MS rarely affects children, after adolescence up to age 35 are where most cases are encountered (Brust, J. 2012). Family genetics may play a role as well, Rose, J., Houtchens, M., & Lynch, S. (1996) state that “The incidence of MS in first degree relatives is 20 times higher than in general population”. Development of MS has been found to be a lot higher in populations of Northern European ancestry than in other ethnic groups (Brust, J. 2012). MS is rarely found in black Africans (Grey, M., & Ailinani, J. 2012). However, Rowland, L., & Pedley, T. (2010) describe the haplotype (group of genes) HLA-DRB1*1501 as the most prevalent known genetic factor influencing MS susceptibility. This haplotype is not necessary for the development of MS but does increase the risk two- to fourfold and is present in 20% to 30% of normal individuals (Rowland, L., & Pedley, T.…show more content…
According to Brant, W. (2007) “Patients may present with virtually any neurologic defect, but they most commonly present with limb weakness, paresthesia, vertigo, and visual or urinary disturbances”. A lot of times the initial symptoms are “sensory disturbances, weakness, visual loss, abnormal gait, diminished dexterity, diplopia, ataxia, vertigo, or sphincter disturbances” (Brust, J. 2012). There can also be other more general symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, or headache caused by the initial disruption in the CNS (Brust, J. 2012). Brust, J. (2012) also illustrates that other than these onset symptoms there can be sensory disturbances, motor symptoms, optic neuritis (loss of vision), ataxia and tremor (discoordinated movements of limbs), diplopia (double vision), vertigo, fatigue, facial pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, facial weakness, flexor spasms, neuropsychiatric dysfunction, dysarthria (impairments in speech), dysphagia (impairment of swallowing), facial myokymia (facial muscle flickering), as well as other paroxysmal

More about Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Open Document