Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system. One specific of MS is the demyelination (damaging) of the nerve sheaths, which is the protecting covering of the nerve, this can interfere with the transfer of signals in the affected nerves. This will eventually lead to a state of disabling of its’ victims. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the definition of MS is as follows:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The exact antigen — or target that the immune cells are sensitized to attack — remains unknown, …show more content…
Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common form of MS. Over half of the people with MS are originally diagnosed with RRMS. The person will have impermanent periods called relapses or flare ups when new symptoms appear. Another type is called secondary progressive MS (SPMS), symptoms become worse over time. It can be with or without manifestation of relapses or remission. The majority of people diagnose with RRMS will eventually be diagnose with SPMS. The third type is primary progressive MS (PPMS). This type occurs only in about 10 percent of people who has MS. Primary Progressive MS is regarded as slowly declining symptoms from the beginning, without remissions or relapses. Lastly, the Progressive relapsing MS (PRMS), less than 5 percent of MS victims has this type. It is regarded as an increasingly decline state from the beginning, with severe relapses, however without remissions. There may or may not be …show more content…
There is a scoring technique that clinicians use, known as the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) or Kurtzke scale, named after the neurologist that established it. This scale will gauge the progression, improvement or no change of signs and symptoms of the person that has MS. EDSS ranges from zero to ten. As the number increase, the worse the signs and symptoms, with ten being death. In a review from the journal Brain, a study was conducted using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measuring of brain and cervical cord damage to predict long term worsening of PPMS matched to other simple clinical assessment in 54 patients. Evaluation of the patient started with a baseline of the fifth year of being diagnose with MS, a 15 month follow up and a final 15-year evaluation. Resulting in predicting the EDSS change of around 1 point, in 44 of the patients that continued in the study. The majority of the patient started medication but did not continue to take the medication by end of study. The main point the study made that it could actually predict the EDSS change over a time span. The most important point that needs to be articulated is the