Neurology

Types Of Multiple Sclerosis

Time heals all wounds except relapsing-remitting MS.

And primary-progressive MS.

And secondary-progressive MS.

And whole bunch of other age-related illnesses, like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and malignancy.

At least time is good for adhesive capsulitis, alternatively known as frozen shoulder!

Multiple sclerosis

MS is a chronic disease involving immune-mediated attacks on the central nervous system. Demyelination causes mayhem.

As a parallel, Guillan-Barre acutely affects the peripheral nervous system. When it’s chronic, it’s called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polymyopathy.

Symptoms

Neurological symptoms ensue after the disease has passed a threshold.

  • Optic neuritis, characterised by painful visual loss in an eye
  • Numbness, weakness
  • Ataxia, spasticity
  • Fatigue
  • Pain
  • Sexual and urinary dysfunction, such as detrusor overactivity causing urgency

Clinically isolated syndrome is a one-off presentation of demyelination that can progress to MS.

Investigations

MRI can show brain lesions.

CSF analysis can show inflammation.

Evoke potential measurement can show demyelination.

Treatment

Ongoing: immunotherapy agents.

Acute relapse: high-dose corticosteroids.

Spasticity: baclofen

Spasms: benzodiazepines

Mobility: fampridine

Paroxysmal symptoms: carbamazepine

Urinary symptoms: oxybutynin

Pregnancy

The risk of MS relapse is lower during pregnancy and higher in the first 3 months after giving birth.

Summary of major demyelinating illnesses

Central nervous system: clinically isolated syndrome (acute), MS (chronic)

Peripheral nervous system: Guillan-Barre (acute), CIDP (chronic)

References

  1. MS Australia. (2001). Types of MS | MS Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.msaustralia.org.au/about-ms/types-ms [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
  2. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (n.d.). Definition of MS. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Definition-of-MS [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Guillain-Barre and CIDP. [online] Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/peripheral_nerve/conditions/guillain_barre_and_cidp.html [Accessed 20 Jan. 2018].
  4. Multiple sclerosis. In: eTG complete [Internet]. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG November 2017 edition); 2017 Nov.

Myelinating Cells

Myelin is the fatty, insulating sheath that surrounds some neurons, specifically their axons. It allows electrical impulses to travel faster down nerves.

Here are the cells that make myelin.

  • Central nervous system: oligodendrocytes
    • Memory aid: o is symmetrical and central-looking, like the cross-section of a stick; dictators wave batons around while giving heinous orders and they’re rather central to autocracy
  • Peripheral nervous system: Schwann cells
    • Memory aid: s is for side, in reference to the periphery

References

  1. Agamanolis, D. (2011). Oligodendroglia and ependymal cells. [online] Neuropathology. Available at: http://neuropathology-web.org/chapter1/chapter1cOligodendroglia.html [Accessed 11 Jan. 2018].