Myasthenia Gravis Essay

Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an autoimmune process that develops when a previous viral insult to the nervous system has occurred in a genetically susceptible individual. B lymphocytes, plasma cells, and activated T cells, along with proinflammatory cytokines, cause inflammation, oligodendrocyte injury and demyelination. Early inflammation and demyelination lead to irreversible axonal

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disease that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) through cellular immune response and the demyelination of CNS white matter (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633). The initial causes of MS are unknown however, it is believed that it could possibly be due to an immune response to an initiating infection or an autoimmune response to CNS antigens on the myelin itself (Brück, 2005) (Miljković and Spasojević, 2013). MS is a result of the degradation of the myelin sheath surrounding neurons and therefore disrupts the transmission of action potentials along these cells. MS can display itself in the form of symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to trouble with sensation and coordination (NHS, 2016). The degradation of myelin leads the body to attempt to remyelinate the neurons, a process that in turn leads to the thickening of the cell by glial cells and this causes lesions to form (Chari, 2007). It is this thickening (sclerae) from which the disease gets its name. Sufferers of MS can either have a relapsing type of MS, in which there are episodes that lead to the worsening of symptoms for a period of time, or a progressive type of MS where symptoms gradually progress and worsen (McCance et al., 2014, pp. 630–633).

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological disease affecting all aspects of life: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social (Abma). It is known as an autoimmune disease, Where the body’s immune system turns against the body and destroys the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. This damage to the nerve cells causes many problems for the patient including weakness, muscle stiffness, poor coordination and balance, tingling, numbness, tremors, blurred vision, slurred speech, and memory and concentration problems (Bren)

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

The father of neurology, Dr. Charcot, examined the brain of a deceased patient because the patient had a tremor unlike anything he has treated before. He noticed plaques or abnormal clusters of chemically sticky proteins that build up amongst nerve cells. He also described the patient’s symptoms and changes in the brain that accompanied the plaques; this was the first description of multiple sclerosis. In England in 1873 and in the United States in 1878, multiple sclerosis was first recognized based off of Dr. Charcot’s description of the disease. In 1916, Dr. James Dawson performed autopsies on brains of patients who died with multiple

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular system part of the body. Chronic means persisting for a long time or constantly recurring. Autoimmune disorder is the confusion of the body’s immune system. The immune system form antibodies that mistakenly identify healthy tissue as foreign and then, the antibodies will attack and/or destroy healthy body tissue. Neuromuscular is the nervous system relationship with the muscles bring about body movement.

Multiple sclerosis, commonly known as MS, is an auto-immune disease. An auto-immune disease is one in which the body attacks itself. In this particular disease, the central nervous system is being attacked. Specifically, the myelin sheath, or the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, is attacked. The attacks cause scar tissue, which makes it difficult for signals to travel between the brain and body. Eventually, the nerves may deteriorate, which is a process that is completely irreversible [5]. See the figure below for more detail.

Then there is the theory that common diseases or STD's trigger MS and this initiates the migration of white blood cells to enter the brain. Once in the brain these white blood cells activate certain parts of the immune system and thus the immune system begins to attack the myelin that surrounds the nerve. (1) There is another theory that the scarring of the myelin of the nerve is caused by oxidation injury. (3) Oxidation injury is seemingly caused by unstable molecules named free radicals. These free radicals supposedly take electrons from healthy molecules they find in the myelin. These free radicals are also said to occur when the body has been exposed to toxic chemicals. (5) Free radicals are described as punching holes in the cellular walls of our bodies. There is another theory that researchers of MS present. The

Multiple Sclerosis, also known as “MS” is a chronic condition where the immune system begins to destroy the myelin sheath that covers the nerves in the body and affects the brain and spinal cord (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). The myelin sheath is used for protection of the nerves in which these nerves aid to transport nerve impulses all over the body (Ruto, 2013). Once the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath, it begins to disintegrate which affects the conductivity of the nerve impulse and impedes the message transmission from the brain to the rest of the body (Ruto, 2013). In turn, the impulses are changed which results in problems in the muscle such as weakness, imbalance and spasms and the body could end up

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic progressive disease involving damage to the myelin sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The exact cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown but we know that something triggers the immune system to attack the central nervous system (CNS). MS happens when your immune system attacks a fatty material called myelin and without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged. The resulting damage to myelin that insulates wire like nerve fibers is a disruption of signals to and from the brain. This hiatus of communication signals causes unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, blindness, paralysis, fatigue and pain. People who have MS experience the disease differently,

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative and potentially debilitating disorder that affects the spinal cord and brain, collectively known as the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis evolves gradually throughout time and is considered to be auto-immune, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues that are supposed to be within the body. According to Medscape, symptoms consist of, but are not limited to, sexual problems, ataxia (the inability to control certain muscle movements as defined by Tortora and Derrickson), fatigue, and optic neuritis. Multiple sclerosis is characterized into four different types: relapsing-remitting MS, secondary-progressive MS, primary-progressive MS, and progressive-relapsing MS. There is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis, but there are many forms of treatments to help suppress the symptoms and hinder the progression. The Patient Education Institute lists of treatments include prescription medication and healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising. Steroids are also administered to delay the severity of the attacks. The aforementioned details about the treatments, types, and symptoms of multiple sclerosis are merely a superficial analysis. To fully understand this disease, a more in-depth and detailed focus of its impact within the body is needed.

The immune system of a human body is fascinating and life-saving, when functioning properly. An immune system lacking proper function will consequently lack the ability to protect the human body. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system, primarily affecting the brain and spinal cord. There are four types, or courses of the multiple sclerosis disease. The first type is known as relapsing- remitting, the second type is primary progressive, the third type is secondary progressive, and lastly the fourth type is progressive relapsing. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that lacks a definitive cause or etiology, yet there are theories that attempt to explain the pathogenesis of the (MS) disease. A

Myasthenia Gravis(MG) is an auto immune disorder characterized by sudden dysarthria, which affects muscles that help produce speech, causing difficultly to pronounce words. But other symptoms include, droopy eye lids, muscle weakness and difficulty swallowing. Because of the sudden dysarthria, many elderly people are being misdiagnosed for possible strokes. Due to the great extent of the misdiagnoses of MG, researchers did a study presenting four subjects that had been presented to the ER with history of hypertension and sudden onset dysarthria. After considering the patients in each study, researchers found that all patients were initially misdiagnosed and treated for strokes, therefore prolonging the correct diagnose of MG and the correct form of treatment for these patients. Once each patient

Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, was first discovered in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot.1,2 He defined it by its “clinical and pathological characteristics: paralysis and the cardinal symptoms of intention tremor, scanning speech, and nystagmus, later termed Charcot’s triad.”2 In Physical Rehabilitation, O’Sullivan, Schmitz, and Fulk defined multiple sclerosis as “a chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation, selective demyelination, and gliosis of neurons of the brain and spinal cord.”2 This results in disruptions in the conduction of nerve impulses.2 The National Multiple Sclerosis Society states that more than 2.3 million people are affected by MS worldwide.1 There is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, but several treatments can be given to help reduce complications and expand the individual’s lifespan. This paper will discuss the anatomy of a neuron, predisposing factors and causes of MS, the disease course of MS, common signs and symptoms, how to diagnose and evaluate for MS, psychological effects of the disease on the patient and his/her family, possible treatment options, cost association with treatment and disability, and special needs and resources in the community to assist patients with MS.

The discovery of these disorders have expanded rapidly the neuroimmunology field, changing some of the paradigms for diagnosis, etiopathogeny, and treatment of different neuromuscular, autonomic and neuropsychiatry disorders. The first antibody against a neuronal protein that was associated with a human disease was the Acetylcholine receptor antibody discovered in 1973 in patients who had myasthenia gravis, a condition where patients had painless muscle weakness that worsens on exertion (Patrick and Lindstrom et, 1973). Until that