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Health Conditions
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
What is it?
MS is characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, or covering, surrounding nerves in multiple areas of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves). Nerves with damaged myelin become scarred (called plaques, lesions, or sclerosis) and no longer function normally because it is more difficult to send electrical signals to the rest of the body without myelin to "grease" the way.
Examples of areas that may be attacked include the blood-brain barrier (a membrane that helps to keep harmful substances out of the brain) and the optic nerves, which are responsible for eyesight. Depending on which nerves are affected and how extensive the damage is, the patient may develop symptoms of impaired body function such as movement, speech and vision.
Hillary's case is an extreme example; MS is an extremely unpredictable and variable disease. The four main types of MS are described in the following table.
Four Types of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
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Relapsing/Remitting MS
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Secondary Progressive MS
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| The most common form of MS, affecting about 85 percent of people with the condition. Relapsing/remitting MS is characterized by sporadic attacks of degeneration (relapses) intermingled with remissions, periods of near-normal health that can last for months or years. Some people even go into permanent remission, but most experience a slow increase in permanent nerve damage.
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A later stage of the relapsing/remitting form of MS where attack rate is reduced and the condition changes to a gradual but steady deterioration of body functions unrelated to acute attacks. Within 10 years, 50 percent of all patients with relapsing/remitting MS will move into the secondary progressive type. |
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Primary Progressive MS
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Progressive/Relapsing MS
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| After onset of symptoms, there is a gradual but steady deterioration of body functions without acute attacks in about 10 percent of people. In the very worst cases, primary progressive MS can accelerate, leading to complete disability or death within just a few months. |
The most severe form of MS, affecting about 5 percent of people with the condition. Progressive/ relapsing MS begins with a progressive course although these people also experience acute attacks. |
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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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What is it?
