Early Diagnosis of Neuromyelitis Optica

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. The disease destroys the myelin, which is the insulation that protects the nerve fibers in the spinal cord, and brain (Niino, 2008). When the myelin is damaged, the message that is traveling along that nerve may be slowed or blocked. Symptoms vary by patient, but often include: numbness or weakness in limbs, partial or complete loss of vision, lack of coordination or unsteady gait, slurred speech, fatigue, dizziness, and problems with bowel and bladder functions.

1. Main point 2: So now that I have talked about what MS is, let us continue on to what the symptoms are and how it can be diagnosed. In most cases, the symptoms generally appear between the ages of 20 and 40 and affect more than twice as many women as men. Common indicators of MS are fatigue, dizziness, numbness and tingling, weakness, blurred vision, heat sensitivity, slurred speech, problems with memory and concentration, loss of balance and more. Sometimes the symptoms disappear completely and the person regains lost functions or sometimes a change in their life causes the symptoms to resurface and return stronger than ever. In my observations, my Dads’ MS is strongest in hot weather and during times of high stress. The symptoms normally vary from person to person, which makes it hard to diagnose. There are currently no lab tests that can be done to rule out or confirm MS, but MRI’s can help reach a strong diagnosis. MS is not considered a fatal disease, but many people struggle to live as productively as they desire, often facing many limitations.

Tests that help diagnose multiple sclerosis are blood tests, lumbar puncture, evoked potential tests, and a MRI. There is no cure for this disease, but there are some treatments. Treatments that help are

MS is characterized by the destruction of myelin, inflammation in the CNS and the formation of lesions in the CNS.

No single test detects MS, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Symptoms can mimic those of a number of other conditions and they can change depending on the area of the central nervous system that

Although there aren’t any specific tests to diagnose MS, there are tests to show certain signs of MS, as well as tests to rule out other diseases. Normally, a physician will ask about past medical conditions, surgical operations, and substance abuse before proceeding with any tests. (Multiple Sclerosis Foundation). There are also neurological examinations

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly known as MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Scientists have been studying MS since the 19th century. In MS, the body’s immune system produces cells and antibodies that attack myelin in your brain which is essential for the nerves in your brain and spinal cord to conduct electricity to perform its function. The attack on myelin results in vison loss, paralysis, numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, stiffness, spasms, and bladder and bowel problems. MS has varying degrees of severity and affects people between the ages of 20-50, mostly women. Although there are treatments, there is no cause and cure yet.

Even though MS effects every individual differently and can run its course in a strikingly different manner than that of another, four basic disease courses have been

Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory demyelinating neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that has the potential to cause significant disability in those affected through the body's immune system attacking and destroying the myelin sheaths surrounding the axons. Myelin is rich in lipids and proteins that form layers around the nerve fibers and acts as insulation and protection. This damage to the myelin in the CNS, and to the actual nerve fibers, has the potential to block the transmission of nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord and also other parts of the body. This disruption of the nerve signals produces the primary symptoms of MS which then possibly lead to secondary and tertiary symptoms stemming from these

However, some MS symptoms can be silent as the disease continues to progress, which makes treatment immediately after diagnosis highly important to reduce lesions sites and number caused by scarring to myelin tissue, dubbed plaques- which is where the name MS originated from (many scars). These scare can be detected and monitored through MRIs. (MSAA)

If you know anyone with Multiple Sclerosis or MS, you would know how terrible the disease is. Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which your immune system attacks the nerve cell covers in the brain and spine are damaged. The nerves in the body eventually deteriorate and it is fatal. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the cause of Multiple sclerosis is still unknown. There is not a cure at the moment for Multiple Sclerosis, but there are treatments that can speed recovery when attacked by the disease (Mayo Clinic). Scientists are under the impressions that there are a few factors that may come into play. They say that when they discover the exact cause of Multiple Sclerosis it will be easier to find a way to treat the disease or maybe even stop it from happening at all. (National Multiple Sclerosis Society)

The cause of MS is still not clear. In recent years, scientists have successfully discovered several different things about Multiple Sclerosis. They have

Visual examinations may also be used to help diagnosed a patient with MS by observing if the patient has a decreased in visual acuity, changes in visual field, and rapid eye movements (PubMed Health, 2013).

Brain signals can often not reach their destination because of the damage to the nerves. What causes the damage to the myelin? Basically, T-cells which are part of white blood cells. Normally, white blood cells attack foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria or other foreign tissues but in people with MS these cells get confused and attack myelin which is why MS is considered an autoimmune deficiency. MS is often disabling meaning that a wheelchair is needed. However, people with this disease suffer from a wide variety of problems, from trouble walking and maintaining balance, muscle weakness, spasms, pain, fatigue, sensation of numbness, and vision problems to name a few. These symptoms are often in recurring periods of time with worsening symptoms, people who suffer from MS have moments where the symptoms are hardly noticeable, and moments when the symptoms are very severe (NMSS).

One reason why the disease is so hard to diagnose is because the signs and symptoms are invisible. Aliza Bitton states that, “the invisible symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include pain, depression, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction” (Ben-Zacharia 177). Ben-Zacharia also stated, “One of the approaches is the ICAP method. ICAP is an acronym for a four step approach: identification of symptoms; causation of symptoms as primary, secondary or tertiary; alleviation of symptoms; prevention of complications” (Ben-Zacharia 177). One of the main effects this disease has on patients is that their muscles slowly stop working while they grow older, and as the MS progresses. Also because of the treatment for the disease their anti-bodies are slowly getting attacked, which opens them up for all kinds of viruses due to a poor immune system. Some other symptoms that