THE multiple sclerosis it was described in 1868 by the French neurologist Jean Charcot. It is an autoimmune disease, that is, a disease in which the immune system attack the cells healthy body. In multiple sclerosis, the system attacked by the defense cells is the central nervous, being the autoimmune reaction directed to myelin. Because it damages myelin, it is considered a demyelinating disease.
Multiple sclerosis has no cure and can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, joint pain, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. It is noteworthy that the disease is not contagious and that there are no ways to prevent the problem.
Read more: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - degenerative disease that causes progressive loss of movement
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system and causes inflammation and demyelination (destruction of myelin) of the white matter. Myelin is essential in the process of transmission of nervous impulse
, therefore, this disease hinders the passage of this impulse. Over time, the points of inflammation and demyelination evolve into the formation of a kind of scar, in which there is a loss of original tissue function. Sclerosis means "scar", hence the name of the disease.
This disease can affect people of different races and both sexes, however, it is more common in whites and women. In addition, it occurs more frequently in young adults, being rare in children and after 60 years of age. In Brazil, the prevalence of the disease is around 18 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. It is estimated that about 2.3 million people live with this condition all over the world.
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Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis can affect any part of the central nervous system, thus causing varied symptoms depending on the area injured. Some symptoms can be highlighted, such as fatigue,numbness and tingling, limb weakness, lack of coordination, visual loss or difficulty, dizziness, nausea, tremors, memory problems, difficulty retaining urine and feces, anddepression. Symptoms of the disease do not appear suddenly.
Initially, symptoms appear, but the body manages to work around the problem, reducing inflammation and ensuring the production of myelin at the site. This makes the symptoms disappear, which makes the patient's diagnosis difficult. If the individual does not treat the problem, the disease begins to leave permanent sequels and scars. In most patients, the disease evolves with episodes of relapse and remission of variable duration.
Multiple sclerosis classification
We can classify the disease, according to its form of manifestation, in four types: burst-remissive, primary progressive, secondary progressive and burst-progressive.
In the form surge-remissive, the individual has flare-ups with symptoms that can last for more than a week. In these cases, partial or complete recovery occurs after the outbreak. It is the most common form of multiple sclerosis and progresses, in 50% of cases, to the secondary progressive form.
In the form primary progressive, there is a gradual worsening of the disease, with no relapses as in the remissive relapse. Its incidence is relatively low.
The shape secondary progressive it is the one that evolves from several years of relapse-remission. It usually appears 10 years after the onset of the disease in relapsing-remitting form.
already in the form surge-progressive, we have a combination of gradual evolution with outbreaks. It's the hardest way to define it.
Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
Diagnosis is complicated as there are several inflammatory diseases that resemble multiple sclerosis. For the effective confirmation of the diagnosis, physical, laboratory and neurological examinations are necessary, especially the MRI exam and O CSF exam.
On magnetic resonance imaging, it is possible to observe the lesions caused by demyelination. The CSF examination, on the other hand, expects to obtain information about the presence of oligoclonal bands, which indicate an increase in the production of antibodies in the nervous system. Diagnosis is usually made by a neurologist.
Read too: Systemic lupus erythematosus - an autoimmune disease that can compromise several patient's organs
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
Multiple sclerosis is a disease still without cure, whose treatment is based on administration of medications that help to delay your advance and relieve symptoms, thus ensuring a better quality of life for the bearer. During treatment, it is important that the patient is monitored by a multidisciplinary team. Follow up with physiotherapist, for example, can guarantee the delay of motor deterioration. In addition, performing respiratory physiotherapy can help prevent complications from the disease.
O psychological follow-up it is also essential, since many patients suffer from depression, and it is quite difficult to face the challenges that the disease imposes, which can cause fears and anxiety. Other professionals who may be involved are occupational therapists and speech therapists.
In addition to drug treatment, research with stem cells are being carried out in various parts of the world in order to achieve a new approach to the disease. So far, the results are encouraging, and this new treatment is considered even more efficient than the medication available on the market. Currently the transplant with stem cells is not offered in Brazil by SUS and is in the experimental phase.
august orange
August Orange is an awareness campaign about multiple sclerosis. The campaign has been running since 2006, when the Law no. 11.303 came into effect. This law established August 30 as the National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher