Muscular Sclerosis

Muscular Sclerosis

Introduction

Muscular Sclerosis or Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease, and Scientists currently believe that it results from disturbances within the central nervous system (CNS).There is meanwhile no known cure and its causes are unknown (Li, et al., 2004). Although it sometimes progressively gets worse with age, it is generally not a fatal condition and sufferers tend to have a life expectancy that is close to the norm. According to Krokavcova, et al., (2008), it presents itself in a number of different types, which may take any future course. Individuals have very peculiar experiences with some having one isolated attack in their life that never returns, while others may go through episodes of illness and remission or progressively worsening bouts (Barker-Collo, et al., 2006).

MS is not a homogeneous disease. Rather, there is wide variation in the presentation of symptoms, course of the disease and ultimate prognosis (Lublin & Reingold, 1996; Vukusic & Confavreux, 2001). There are four primary subtypes of multiple sclerosis largely characterized by the time-course and pattern of disease progression: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and progressive relapsing MS (PRMS) (Lublin & Reingold, 1996).

Importantly, the course that a particular case of MS will take is unpredictable (Mutch, 2005). Additionally, while observations of large groups of people with MS may identify patterns, closer studies have confirmed that such patterns may not be accurate because the disease manifests itself differently from one individual to another. As such, any claim to universal information about MS would be mostly inaccurate (Malcomson, et al., 2008). Given this, studies of any individual or groups of people with MS never guarantee their usefulness in future or applicability elsewhere. The experiences for people with this disease are always peculiar and produce limited valid patterns (Salamonsen, et al., 2010).

Current Statistics

Worldwide, the incidence of MS is approximately 0.1%; the incidence varies geographically and is generally higher in northern latitudes. Disease onset is typically between the ages of 20 and 40 years; the average age at diagnosis is 29 years in women and 31 years in men. The condition affects women more than twice as often as men and is diagnosed in Whites more often than in other racial/ethnic groups.

Approximately 80-85% of patients with MS have a relapsing-remitting course and 50% of these patients progress to a secondary progressive course within 10-20 years of disease onset; 10% present with primary progressive MS and 5% with progressive-relapsing MS. Left untreated, more than 30% of patients with MS develop significant disability within 20-25 years. Common causes of death in patients with MS are pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, aspiration, urosepsis, and/or pressure ulcers.

Etiology

The cause of the disease is unknown, although much evidence suggests that T lymphocytes that injure nerve cells and nerve sheaths play an important role, that is, that the disease has an autoimmune basis. Some evidence links MS to hypovitaminosis of vitamin D.

Symptoms

Nearly a quarter of all patients with MS initially develop visual disturbances, or blindness. This condition, called optic (or “retrobulbar”) ...