Multiple Sclerosis – What Is This Disease?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can lead to disability and serious difficulties in daily life and communication. It is the most common immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating disease, in which an autoimmune reaction is triggered against the myelin sheath surrounding nerves. This leads to disrupted transmission of impulses between the brain and the rest of the body. At the same time, axonal damage occurs. Imaging studies show multifocal lesions in the brain and spinal cord.
Causes of Multiple Sclerosis
The disease mainly affects people aged 20 to 40, although cases have been reported in older individuals and children. Women are affected twice as often as men, except for the primary progressive form. The pathology is caused by multiple mechanisms, such as inflammation, demyelination, and axonal degeneration.
However, the exact cause of multiple sclerosis has not yet been established.
Identified risk factors include:
- Early smoking.
- Obesity during adolescence.
- Low levels of vitamin D3.
- Infectious mononucleosis.
- Infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
Genetic factors also play an important role.
Multiple Sclerosis – Symptoms and Clinical Presentation
The disease is characterized by a relapsing course with periods of remission. Neurological manifestations are predominant.
Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms:
- Double vision.
- Tingling sensations and numbness in the limbs, trunk, and face.
- Lhermitte’s sign.
- Muscle weakness.
- Increased muscle tone.
- Impaired superficial sensitivity.
- Gait and balance disturbances.
- General weakness.
- Body pain.
- Dizziness.
- Erectile dysfunction, decreased libido.
- Cognitive impairment.
- Depressive states.
Loss of sphincter control is particularly distressing for patients.
Multiple Sclerosis – Diagnosis and Detection Methods
For an accurate diagnosis, it is recommended to contact the specialists at VIVERE CLINIC. Practicing neuroimmunologists can identify demyelinating lesions in characteristic areas using advanced equipment.
MS diagnosis includes:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.
- Assessment of clinical symptoms.
- Analysis of medical history.
- Blood tests using PCR and antibody detection for viruses.
Additionally, the doctor may order an examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained via lumbar puncture.
Vivere – A Clinic for Treating Multiple Sclerosis with Excellent Results
In medical practice, MS is considered an incurable disease. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and exacerbations and to modify the course of the disease. Therapy can be initiated in patients at high risk of developing the condition.
Multiple sclerosis treatment aims to reduce and eliminate neurological symptoms and is tailored to the severity of the clinical presentation.
For this purpose, the following are used:
- Glucocorticosteroids administered orally (prednisolone) or intravenously (methylprednisolone).
- If this is ineffective, plasmapheresis may be prescribed.
- When standard therapy is contraindicated, for example due to comorbidities or pregnancy, immunoglobulins are used.
Symptomatic treatment is often the most appropriate approach.
A specialist may prescribe:
- Muscle relaxants.
- Antidepressants.
- Pain relievers from the antiepileptic group (carbamazepine).
- Medications affecting bladder function (oxybutynin, tolterodine).
- Drugs to improve sexual function (estrogens for women, sildenafil and tadalafil for men).
- Agents regulating bowel movements (osmotic agents, fiber).
An important part of a comprehensive approach to achieving stable remission is physical rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Success depends primarily on the clinical form, timing of therapy initiation, and individual patient characteristics.
