Multiple sclerosis | University of Maryland Medical Center

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of MS.

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease. In MS, the bodys immune system produces cells and proteins (antibodies) that attack myelin, a fatty substance that protects nerve fibers. The cause of MS is unknown. It is not an inherited disease, but it appears that genetic factors play a role in making some people more susceptible to developing it.

MS affects significantly more women than men. Most patients first begin to have symptoms between the ages of 20 - 50.

The course of MS varies among patients. The disease may be mild, moderate, or severe. Most patients have the relapsing-remitting form of MS in which flare-ups (also called relapses or exacerbations) of symptoms are followed by periods of remission.

Symptoms of MS include fatigue; vision problems; difficulty walking; muscle weakness, stiffness, and spasms; and bladder and bowel problems. Not all patients have all symptoms.

Treatment

Patients with multiple sclerosis are treated with medications and rehabilitation. Seven disease-modifying drugs are approved to treat multiple sclerosis. These drugs can help reduce the frequency and severity of relapses and slow disease progression and disability. Drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are:

Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron, Extavia)

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Multiple sclerosis | University of Maryland Medical Center