WHAT IS MS?
· Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. This means that the persons own immune system attacks their own central nervous system.
· The cause in is unknown but possible reasons being studied are:
o Genetic susceptibility
o The affect of sunlight and vitamin D
o The affect of viral infections
· The disease takes three main forms:
o Relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis, characterised by episodes of neurological worsening interspersed with periods of
stability;
o Primary progressive multiple sclerosis, in which progressive neurological disability occurs from the outset;
o Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis, in which progressive neurological disability occurs later in the course of the disease
· There is no one diagnostic test. Diagnosis is based on the clinical history, excluding other causes, and supportive tests that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lumbar puncture and evoked potentials (electrical tests).
· The cause in is unknown but possible reasons being studied are:
o Genetic susceptibility
o The affect of sunlight and vitamin D
o The affect of viral infections
· The disease takes three main forms:
o Relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis, characterised by episodes of neurological worsening interspersed with periods of
stability;
o Primary progressive multiple sclerosis, in which progressive neurological disability occurs from the outset;
o Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis, in which progressive neurological disability occurs later in the course of the disease
· There is no one diagnostic test. Diagnosis is based on the clinical history, excluding other causes, and supportive tests that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lumbar puncture and evoked potentials (electrical tests).