Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Common manifestations include paresthesias, diplopia, loss of vision, numbness or weakness of the limbs, bowel or bladder dysfunction, spasticity, ataxia, fatigue, and mental changes. Four main patterns of MS are recognized: relapsing remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive, and progressive relapsing. The cause of MS is unknown, although it appears to be an autoimmune disease. Much of what is known about MS has been learned from an animal model of the disease, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Conventional therapy may include immunomodulating drugs (such as certain types of beta interferon) to reduce the frequency of relapses, glucocorticoids to treat acute exacerbations, and amantadine to treat fatigue. Other medications are used for specific MS-related symptoms.