Guide To The Types Of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system that mainly affects the brain and spinal cord. The immune system of a multiple sclerosis patient attacks the myelin, which is the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers. When the myelin sheath becomes damaged, the nerves are unable to communicate effectively between the brain and the rest of the body. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis differ for each patient and depend on the degree of nerve damage. Additionally, symptoms will differ depending on which nerves are affected. Some individuals with multiple sclerosis may go through long periods of remission with an absence of new symptoms while others may lose their ability to walk unassisted or at all. There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis, but treatment can change the course of the disease, manage symptoms, and speed up recovery from attacks.

There are several different variations of multiple sclerosis distinguished by the course they take. Learn about these now.

Clinically Isolated Syndrome

Clinically isolated syndrome is characterized by a patient who has an initial attack of neurological symptoms that result from inflammation and subsequent demyelination in the central nervous system. This attack does not yet warrant the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis because individuals who have clinically isolated syndrome sometimes do not go on to develop multiple sclerosis. This first episode of neurological symptoms must last for at least twenty-four hours and is accompanied by brain lesions that can be seen on an MRI. The brain lesions may be similar to the lesions that occur in multiple sclerosis, or they could be dissimilar to these lesions. Presence of similar lesions indicates the patient will experience a second episode of symptoms and a subsequent diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. When the lesions on the MRI are absent or dissimilar to multiple sclerosis lesions, the individual has a much lower chance of developing multiple sclerosis. Treating clinically isolated syndrome early has been proven to help delay the onset of more severe types of multiple sclerosis.

Learn about more forms of this condition now.