MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND AUTOIMMUNE NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND AUTOIMMUNE NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering (myelin) around nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. This condition mainly affects the white matter of the brain. This disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body, leading to a wide range of neurological symptoms, depending on the location of the lesions. Common symptoms include vision problems such as loss of vision, blurred vision, muscle weakness, balance and coordination difficulties, numbness and tingling, bladder or bowel dysfunction. Typically the symptoms improve with time and then subsequently relapse and this is known as relapsing remitting MS. Other variants include secondary progressive MS, primary progressive MS and clinically isolated syndromes. Diagnosis is usually established by clinical evaluation and then tests including MRI brain and lumbar puncture.

Treatments include mainly preventive disease modifying therapies. Examples include intravenous agents such as ocrelizumab, Tysabri. Oral agents include Ponvory, Vumerity, Gilenya. Relapses of MS are treated with intravenous steroids- Methyl Prednisone.

At Neurology Center of Las Vegas Come on we tailor the treatment on an individual basis and closely monitor symptoms. We also prescribed symptomatic treatments for associated symptoms such as pain, fatigue and mood symptoms. We also have an infusion center at our facility.

Other autoimmune diseases include neuromyelitis optica or NMO and MOG antibody disease or MOGAD. These are rarer than MS and the treatments are different.