The Guillain-Barre Syndrome Essay

D. According to the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), the diagnosis of ALS is a "clinical diagnosis," meaning there is no specific test for it. Often, tests will be administered to rule out illnesses with similar symptoms. These may include an MRI of the brain or spinal cord, an electromyography (EMG) study of nerve and muscle function, and a variety of blood and urine tests.

Once these symptoms are apparent enough, a clinical diagnosis is the next step of action. There is no one definitive test or procedure to this date to distinguish a clear, formal diagnosis of the disease, making the task nearly impossible. There are many other diseases with some of the same symptoms as ALS, making it that much harder to make a reliable decision on the matter. A series of tests can be done to rule out other diseases from the question, eventually leaving ALS as the only logical diagnosis. Some of the diagnostic exams include a spinal tap, x-rays, including an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), myelogram of cervical spine, muscle and nerve biopsies, and an overall thorough neurological inspection.

For each of the following diagnostic test results, note which specific segment of the spinal cord would have to be damaged to create those symptoms. (include right and left sides in your analysis). (2pts)

Once someone is diagnosed with ALS, there are different treatments. There is a New treatment called NeuRx DPS that came out a couple of months ago in September 29 (Synapse). In order

The doctor also questions the patient about the symptoms, their duration, and their onset. In a Physical examination, the doctor runs tests that will determine the health of nerves and muscles. Doctors will also look for weakness in specific parts of the body. In a MRI, a patient’s body is placed within a magnetic field and scanned by radio waves. Doctors also take pictures of the brain or spine to see if there are any patches or scars on the myelin sheath. In CSF collection, the doctor will take a sample of the patient’s spinal fluid. Then doctors study the sample for abnormalities like an increase of white blood cells and high amounts of immunoglobulin G. In ERTs, doctors attach wires to a patients scalp. Then doctors can measure the speed of visual, hearing, and sensory pathways and can detect damaged areas of the brain.

Most people do not expect to become paralyzed during the course of their lives. Barring injury to the nervous system or debilitating disease, one does not expect to lose motor function. In spite of these expectations, people of all races, sexes, ages, and classes can be afflicted with a debilitating syndrome that can lead to difficulty in walking or even to temporary paralysis in the most severe cases. This syndrome is known commonly as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS.

Multiple Sclerosis and Guillain-Barré Syndrome are two autoimmune disorders of the nervous system that occur when the myelin sheath surrounding the axons of a nerve degenerate. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system while Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) involves the peripheral nervous system.1,2 MS is a gradually regressing disease that usually occurs in one of four ways. The first is relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and is the most common. Patients typically experience relapses where the symptoms are aggravated and enhanced followed by episodes of remissions during which the symptoms cease or calm down. 3 The second type is called secondary-progressive MS (SPMS). This type mimics RRMS but undergoes a steadier decline that may or may not include relapses3. The third type is primary-progressive MS (PPMS) where the disease progresses at a more regular rate from onset. PPMS, however, may speed up, slow down, or even plateau for a bit, but no remissions are present.3 Lastly, progressive-relapsing MS (PRMS), the least common type, presents similarly to PPMS in that the decline is steady, but this type of MS has exacerbations that the patient may or may not recover from.3 Unlike MS, Guillain-Barré does not present in types and characteristically attacks more rapidly.2 It is a poorly understood disease, however, research has shown that it is generally preceded by a bacterial or viral infection.4

Weakness or numbness on one side of the body or in an arm or leg.

Diagnosing the disease can be relatively simple, but this depends on accurate patient history and ones ability to recognize varied clinical signs and then perform diagnostic procedures. These diagnostic procedures may include antigen testing, x-rays, ultrasonography, angiography, a complete blood count, the Knott’s or Filter test, and in the worst case necropsy.

P: After working together and people looking out for each other the team will get stronger and be more productive as there is high morale

MG may be difficult to diagnose and may not be determined for a couple of years. Reasons are as follows: the onset is gradual with the symptoms worsening over time, weakness and fatigue can also be signs and symptoms of other diseases, one or more of the voluntary muscle groups may experience weakness and with different degrees of severity, and also every patient may experiences the disease differently. After the medical history and physical examination, the physician may see a need for further muscle and neurological tests. Blood tests can detect abnormal antibodies. Nerve conduction studies and repetitive stimulation tests the nerve’s communication with the muscle. When stimulated a number of times the test will indicate muscle weakness. Single-fiber (EMG) electromyography is a test that measures the communication between the nerve and a muscle by inserting a small needle into a single muscle and recording the electrical muscle activity. CT scan or MRI may be ordered to check for

They may develop alone or in combination, but as the disease progresses, all are usually present. There is no true paralysis. The symptoms are always bilateral but usually involve one side early in the illness. Because the onset is insidious, the beginning of symptoms is difficult to document. Early in the disease, reflex status, sensory status, and mental status usually are normal. Postural abnormalities (flexed, forward leaning), difficulty walking, and weakness develop. Speech may be slurred. Autonomic-neuroendocrine symptoms include inappropriate diaphoresis, orthostatic hypotension, drooling, gastric retention, constipation, and urinary retention. Depression is also prevalent.

Meningitis can be destructive without proper understanding of what it is caused by. There are three types of meningitis- bacterial, fungal, and viral. Contrasting factors tend to arise during a comparison of them. One of the most notable areas that viral, fungal and bacterial meningitis differ in are their treatment ability. However, they have the same general affects on the human body. In any case, there are tests that doctors can utilize in order to discover if the meningitis is bacterial, fungal, or viral.

The human brain is utterly baffling. A small organ weighing merely three pounds as an adult has the ability to control and shape a human’s life. Without it there would be nothing. There are so many different functions… and with that there are so many things that can go horribly wrong. It is amazing the capacities and that it possesses and we do not even realize it. That is why studying neurology and working on the treatment of neurological disorders is so critically important. Through the examination of Huntington’s disease, Bell’s Palsy, and Aphasia, neurologists can work to better the human mind and cure the diseases that attack it, which will infinitely enhance the lives of humans and create a brighter future for us all.

In 1981 Weissbluth et al. reported the first case of extensive MS associated with GM1 ganglio sidosis 9. Since then some other cases have been reported linking other IEM with MS and GM1 gangliosidosis. There are 54 reported cases of extensive MS with various IEM, in which 25 cases are associated with Hurler syndrome, 17 with GM1G, 9 in Hunter syndrome, 2 in ᶐ-mannosidosis, and 1 with Niemann-Pick disease6. Of these 25 cases of Hurler syndrome, 19 have been reported in a single study by Gonzalez et al8,10. However in recent years reporting of extensive MS in GM1G is more frequent in comparison to Hurler syndrome. By 2006, only 39 cases LySD associated with MS was reported, of these 24 patients had Hurler disease, and 11 patients had type 1