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Multiple sclerosis
- chronic, progressive and degenerative disease
- affects young adults between 20 and 40
- frequency of occurrence is rare (0.1%)
- considered an autoimmune disease
- disease of the myelin sheath (primary demyelinization)
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Possible causes of MS
- heredity
- infectious microorganisms
- trauma
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Manifestations of MS
- motor symptoms: muscle weakness, mild to partial paralysis
- sensory symptoms: tingling, numbness
- coordination and balance symptoms: loss of coordination, shaking
- urinary urgency, incontinence and sexual dysfunction
- short-term and long-term cognitive deficits
- periods of remission and exacerbation
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Diagnosis of MS
- no one, specific test
- blood tests
- lumbar puncture spinal tap
- MRI and contrast dye
- evoke potential test
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MS follows one of four potential directions
- relapsing-remitting
- progressive relapsing
- secondary progressive
- primary progressive
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Treatment of MS
- plasmapheresis
- glucocorticosteroids to reduce inflammatory spikes during a relapse or flare-up
- muscle relaxants to reduce spasticity
- interferons, immunosuppressants and immunomodulators taken long term to reduce frequency and severity of relapses
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Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- chronic, terminal neurological disease causing degeneration of motor neurons in the ventral horn of spinal cord
- affects trigeminal (V), facial (VII) and hypoglossal (XI) cranial nerves
- affects voluntary muscle movement
- occurs late in life - 50's, 60's
- slightly more common in men than women
- characterized by muscle atrophy in extremities affecting breathing and performing routine tasks
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Causes of Lou Gehrig's disease
- heredity (~10%)
- unknown (~90%)
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Treatment of Lou Gehrig's disease
- palliative, controlling symptoms
- neuroprotective medications to slow progression of disease, mechanism unknown
- centrally-acting muscle relaxants used to treat muscle spasms
- anxiolytics used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures
- muscarinic receptor antagonists used to treat problems with swallowing saliva
- tricyclic antidepressants used to treat depression and problems with swallowing saliva
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