Can multiple sclerosis be cured? Is it possible to treat multiple sclerosis with folk methods? Multiple sclerosis (MS): what causes it, signs and course, diagnosis, therapy, curable or not? How is sclerosis treated?

Most of us mistakenly believe that sclerosis is a disease of old people who lose their memory due to age-related characteristics. Unfortunately, the reality is that this disease affects not only the elderly, but also the very young, and memory loss is just one of the symptoms, and even then it is quite rare.

What is sclerosis, what are its symptoms and types, who is at risk? This article will try to answer all the questions posed.

What is sclerosis?

The term "sclerosis" in medicine refers to a chronic inflammatory process that affects medium and large arteries due to their "overgrowth" with cholesterol deposits and manifests itself in the replacement of normal tissue of connective organs. The occurrence of sclerotic changes in the body can provoke:

transferred inflammatory diseases;
circulatory disorders;
age changes.

It should be noted that sclerosis is a disease that can affect almost any human organs and tissues: brain vessels, lungs, heart, kidneys, and others.

Risk factors

Studies have shown that sclerotic lesions can be caused by a variety of factors that are both modifiable and uncontrollable.

Unmodified risk factors for the development of multiple sclerosis that cannot be controlled include:

1. Genetic, inherited by us from our parents. For example, the specific structure of proteins and enzymes, the characteristics of metabolism.

2. Belonging to one or another ethnic group.

3. Age-related changes. It has been established that sclerotic manifestations occur much more often in postmenopausal women and in men over 45 years of age.

Modifiable or controllable factors are:

1. Lifestyle.

2. Those or other bad habits.

3. High cholesterol.

4. Diseases caused by metabolic disorders.

5. Blood clotting disorders.

6. High pressure.

7. Physical inactivity.

Disease classification

Sclerosis is classified according to how much the disease has damaged the nervous system and which organs are affected:

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the protective myelin sheath of nerve fibers is destroyed under the attacks of one's own blood cells, and their conductivity is disturbed. There are such clinical forms of this disease:

stem;

Cerebrospinal;

optical;

spinal;

Cerebellar.

Arteriosclerosis (atherosclerosis) is a chronic disease resulting from the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, which impede blood supply, which can lead to the development of ischemia in the future.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive disease that results in the death of motor neurons in the brain and lateral columns of the spinal cord, which leads to muscle atrophy and the development of muscle paralysis.
Cardiosclerosis develops on the valves and muscles of the heart and triggers the mechanism for the development of scar tissue in them, which significantly reduces the ability of the heart muscle to contract.
Nephrosclerosis occurs as a result of various lesions and injuries of the kidneys and blood vessels that provide them with blood. There is a replacement of normal scar tissue, which leads to dysfunction of this organ.
Cerebral vascular sclerosis is caused by cholesterol plaques that disrupt blood circulation, thereby creating a deficiency of nutrients and oxygen in brain cells and their subsequent death. In place of dead cells, cysts form from scar tissue.

Cirrhosis (sclerosis) of the liver can be caused by prolonged intoxication of various substances, and also develop as a result of viral hepatitis.
Pneumosclerosis is a disease that causes the growth of scar tissue in the lungs, leading to a decrease in the elasticity of damaged areas and a violation of gas exchange functions.
Systemic scleroderma causes inflammation of small vessels throughout the body, leading to sclerotic lesions of the internal organs, skin, and musculoskeletal system.
Subchondral sclerosis is a disease that affects the joints.

Having listed the main types of this serious illness, we will consider in more detail the most common forms.

It is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system. To date, it is incurable, there are only a number of methods that stop the development of this disease, as well as reduce the frequency and number of exacerbations. Despite many ongoing studies, scientists have not yet been able to establish the exact cause of its occurrence. Today, physicians consider multiple sclerosis as a polyetiological disease, that is, having several causes that cause it. Thus, the mechanism of the disease is triggered only in a certain combination of them.

Symptoms

This disease manifests itself in a very diverse way, so much so that doctors had to identify 50 different signs of this disease that can manifest themselves in one case or another. When making a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the most common symptoms considered are:

feeling of constant fatigue;
depressive state;
dizziness;
visual impairment;
tingling and numbness of hands and feet;
tremor of the limbs;
bowel and bladder dysfunction.

However, similar symptoms in one combination or another may indicate other diseases. That is why various laboratory tests are carried out to confirm the diagnosis.

motor neuron disease

This is what is also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It selectively affects peripheral and central motor neurons, which manifests itself:

in the growing weakness of the pelvic and shoulder girdle, muscles of the abdomen and trunk;
damage to the bulbar muscles of the tongue, pharynx, larynx and paresis of the palate;
in a decrease or increase in reflexes;
in spontaneous and non-rhythmic contractions of bundles of muscle fibers of individual muscles or their groups;
speech disorder.

Lateral sclerosis in most cases develops in patients after 50 years, although this disease can affect a person of any age. Experts distinguish the following types of it:

lumbosacral;

bulbar;

Cervical-thoracic.

How is it treated?

Current therapies cannot cure this disease. Patients with a similar diagnosis should be regularly observed by doctors of several specialties. To maintain the vital activity of patients with a disease such as lateral sclerosis, treatment consists in taking many different drugs, including anabolic hormones. The disease lasts from 2 to 10 years and always, with the exception of the case of Stephen Hawking, has a poor prognosis. Patients die from exhaustion, concomitant infections or paralysis of the respiratory center.

Atherosclerosis

This is another name that hides cerebral vascular sclerosis, a fairly common and often diagnosed disease. Its first symptoms may appear after the age of 25, but usually this disease is diagnosed in people over 50 years of age. In the process of development of this disease, there is a narrowing and deformation of the vessels of the brain under the influence of cholesterol deposits on their inner surface. As a result, there is a slowly increasing deficit in the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the organ fed by the affected vessel.

Atherosclerosis symptoms are different, and their manifestation depends on the localization of the disease and the spread of the process. Diagnosis is carried out by identifying lesions of individual vessels.

Causes

The development of this disease can be provoked by the following factors:

1. Heredity.

2. Stay in constant psycho-emotional stress.

3. Diseases of the endocrine system.

4. High blood pressure.

5. Bad habits, such as smoking.

6. Little physical activity.

In the course of treatment, special attention is paid to regular physical activity, which contributes to the development of alternative blood flow routes, as well as to a proper diet.

subchondral sclerosis

During the development of this disease, degradation of the articular cartilage occurs, leading to a change in the surface of the joint. This type of sclerosis is divided into primary and secondary forms. In the first case, healthy cartilage is affected under the influence of strong overloads of the spine. The secondary form occurs on cartilage that has been injured in any way. Thus, subchondral sclerosis is a disease that can occur both under the influence of injuries and diseases, and with improper organization of physical activity.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system with a continuously progressive course, which is based on autoimmune damage (demyelinization) of the pathways of the brain and spinal cord and is manifested by corresponding disabling symptoms.

MS is considered a multifactorial disease, but in recent years the leading role has been assigned to viral damage to the nervous system. Provoking factors that significantly increase the risk of multiple sclerosis can be considered heredity, features of the functioning of the immune system, lipid metabolism. The disease can appear at any age, more often in persons of the "white" Caucasian race, women are more susceptible.

Autoimmune attack on the myelin sheath in MS

Goals of MS Therapy

Is there a cure for multiple sclerosis? The answer to this question is definitely no! The disease is considered chronic, it is not possible to completely cure it at the present stage of world medicine, therefore, MS therapy sets itself several important goals and objectives:

Treatment of emerging exacerbations.
Preventive (prophylactic) treatment with drugs that change the direction of the disease to a more favorable one.
Reducing the frequency of relapses and the severity of their manifestation.
Symptomatic therapy to improve the quality of life.

To date, more than 120 different drugs are used to treat MS worldwide. Each of them is used at a certain stage in the course of the disease. The effectiveness of treatment depends on many factors: age, the rate of development of MS in each individual patient, the response to therapy, the drug regimens used. The earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is. Diagnosis is based on MRI of the brain, as well as neurological symptoms.

Over the past decades, European countries have managed to reduce mortality from multiple sclerosis by almost 30% due to the introduction of the latest developments!

Pathogenetic treatment

Multiple sclerosis requires lifelong treatment

Treatment of multiple sclerosis, elimination or reduction of symptoms is aimed at partial or complete suppression of autoimmune inflammation of the nervous tissue, that is, to combat the demyelination of nerve fibers at the time of exacerbation.

Glucocorticosteroids

The main drugs used in our country are glucocorticosteroids (GCS) and pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Advantages of hormone therapy during exacerbation:

decrease in damaging blood autoantibodies;
decrease in the flow of immune complexes to the cells of the central nervous system;
rapid relief of exacerbations, a decrease in the severity of symptoms of MS;
anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous effect, reduced capillary permeability;
acceleration of transmission of nerve impulses between neurons.

GCS are not able to stop the course of multiple sclerosis! Hormone therapy is used only during periods of exacerbation in order to reduce immune inflammation, symptomatic manifestation and duration of relapse!

Corticosteroids help reduce the severity of multiple sclerosis flare-ups

Disadvantages of GCS treatment:

Pulse therapy with large doses of hormones, on the one hand, reduces the manifestations of MS, and on the other hand, disrupts the normal production of its own hormones by the adrenal glands, their insufficiency occurs, which, ultimately, after a couple of months, leads to new relapses of MS and the progression of the disease.
The body's own immune defense decreases, attacks of lymphocytes on the myelin sheath become more frequent. Over time, hormone treatment becomes less effective than it was in the beginning.
Corticosteroids cause a violation of mineral metabolism, increase the risk of infections, especially viral ones, which, against the background of an existing disease of the nervous system, leads to an aggravation of existing symptoms.
Complications: Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, menstrual disorders in women, psychosis, excessive body hair growth, hypocalcemia with increased bone fragility, osteoporosis and frequent fractures, steroid stomach ulcers.

GCS treatment regimens:

Sinakten-depot (synthetic corticotropin with zinc). It is administered intramuscularly 1 ml (20 IU) once a day for 7 days, then 1 ml 3 times a day every other day, then 1 time per week.
Prednisolone short courses 2-9 weeks: 15 mg per day for a month; 40 mg per day for up to two months or 100 mg per day for 40 days; 150 mg every 4 hours intravenously, and then 120 mg orally for 7 days. Choose one of the schemes.
Dexamethasone 16 mg per day orally for one week.
Methylprednisolone 100 mg orally per day for a week.
Corticotropin (ACTH) is used at 1000 IU for 10-14 days in different schemes.

The treatment regimen is selected individually

There are a lot of hormonal therapy regimens. In each case, the attending doctor in the hospital selects the most suitable for his patient. Cancellation of the drug is carried out gradually until complete or a maintenance dose is left. Pulse therapy is recommended only for severe exacerbations of MS.

In some cases, with an aggressive, fast course, spinal form, endolumbar administration of GCS (into the spinal canal) together with Cytorabine (a cytostatic drug) is possible.

Immunomodulators

The second place in the treatment of forms of multiple sclerosis is rightfully occupied by immunomodulatory drugs of the interferon group and not only, such as:

Interferons betta 1a (CinnoVex is used in the Russian Federation, Avonex is used abroad; Rebif 22, Genfaxon).
Interferons betta 1b (Betaferon, Extavia, Ronbetal for subcutaneous injection).
Nerventra (laquinimod). The drug has a pronounced immunomodulatory effect, protects nerve cells, reduces the activity of demyelination, reduces the frequency of relapses, the severity of multiple sclerosis, and the degree of disability.
Human immunoglobulin 10% for intravenous administration (Oktagam, Gamuneks).
Copaxone (glatiramer acetate). Teva's drug was developed specifically for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is a complex of 4 amino acids with a modulating effect on the immune system. Through a series of complex reactions, it stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory substances by T-lymphocytes, and protects nerve cells from damage. Unlike interferons, it has a local effect, without affecting all parts of the immune system. It is used both for the initial manifestations of MS, and for relapsing-remitting course. Contraindicated in children under 18 years of age and pregnant women. The course of therapy is long, 20 mg subcutaneously daily.

A specific immunomodulatory drug that is intended for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Domestic alternative analogues of Copaxone: Glatirat and Axoglatiran FS. All immunomodulators have an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing damage to the myelin of the nerve fiber, dramatically slowing down the formation of pathological T-lymphocytes, which play a key role in autoaggression, and reduce the migration of leukocytes from the bloodstream to the central nervous system. Due to these effects, the frequency and duration of relapses are reduced. The course of therapy is designed for a long time (from 6 months and longer). With good results, treatment is carried out for life.

Cytostatics

This group of drugs is used when the treatment with previous drugs (hormones, immunomodulators) did not give a visible effect, or the course of multiple sclerosis worsened.

The most commonly used cytostatics are:

Azathioprine It does not penetrate the BBB, therefore it has its effect on the periphery, leading to inhibition of the synthesis of active T-lymphocytes. After 2-3 years of treatment, a decrease in the frequency of relapses, as well as the severity of the clinical picture, can be noted. Side effects: disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, anemia, a decrease in the number of blood leukocytes, a negative effect on the bone marrow (12% of patients).
Methotrexate. It has good immunosuppression on T- and B-lymphocytes, it has been proven effective in slowing MS when used at a dose of 7.5 mg per week orally for a long time. Of the side effects, there is a risk of cirrhosis of the liver.

Methotrexate has immunosuppressive and cytostatic effects

Cladribine. Effectively inhibits the maturation of lymphocytes and monocytes, which leads to lymphopenia. At the same time, autoimmune damage to the myelin sheath slows down, but due to secondary immunodeficiency, the risk of infections increases. The efficacy of the drug was proven according to MRI of the brain study compared with the placebo group (reduction of lesions).

Immunosuppressants

According to their mechanism of action and indications for use, they are similar to the previous group. Due to the active suppression of autoimmune complexes and cells, they slow down the progression of MS and the destruction of myelin. Known and effective drugs:

Movectro (made in Great Britain).
Gilenya (Switzerland).
Lemtrada (Alemtuzumab). Sanofi's RF product. It is a monoclonal antibody (MAB) that selectively binds to a glycoprotein on the surface of malignant lymphocytes and leads to their lysis (death). It is prescribed 12 mg per day intravenously for 5 days. Repeated course in a year at 12 mg per day for 3 days.
Oituximab (an anticancer drug with an immunosuppressive effect on lymphocytes). It is used in the primary progressive course of multiple sclerosis.
Tysabri (natalizumab) is an analogue of the previous drug from the MCA group. Not to be used in children under 18 years of age.
Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus). Made in the USA by Roche. It is the newest and best monoclonal antibody for the treatment of relapsing and primary progressive MS. It is used every 6 months parenterally, significantly slows down the development of the disease, reduces the severity of existing and the appearance of new symptoms, restores performance, improves the level and quality of life.

Modern drug for the treatment of MS

Non-pharmacological treatment of MS

In addition to drug therapy for multiple sclerosis, scientists are tirelessly looking for new ways and methods of treating this formidable disease. Below are some interesting data on the latest techniques that allow not only to stop damage to the nervous system, but also to return the patient to a full-fledged active life.

Bone marrow stem cell transplant

Can multiple sclerosis be cured in the future? British scientists give hope for this. British doctors have transplanted their own stem cells and expanded the frontiers in the treatment of MS. The essence of the treatment is to take a sample of the bone marrow, then the patient undergoes chemotherapy to suppress the activity of the immune system. After the procedure, a patient with multiple sclerosis is transplanted with their own stem cells taken earlier. After 1-2 months, the immune system begins to fully function, which leads to a sharp slowdown in myelin damage in the central nervous system. There is evidence that in this way several people have already been able to refuse a wheelchair. Research in this area is ongoing.

Plasmapheresis

This is a procedure for purifying the liquid part of the blood (plasma) by passing through special filters. In this way, antibodies, circulating immune complexes, pathological protein molecules and much more are removed from the blood. Plasmapheresis is successfully used in the treatment of psoriasis, myasthenia, and multiple sclerosis.
The procedure is shown with the ineffectiveness of pulse therapy, as well as as an addition to drug therapy regimens. It gives a good and fast result for getting rid of neurological symptoms. One of the complications can be considered blood infection, clotting disorder, which is extremely rare.

Nanotechnology in the treatment of MS

Chemists at the Tel Aviv Research University (Israel) in 2016 proposed an unusual, but very promising way to restore the lost functions of the nervous system through the use of fullerene molecules. The latter contain a very high concentration of carbon and are able to exhibit pronounced antioxidant properties. Due to this action, it is possible to maintain life, the activity of nerve cells of the central nervous system. At the moment, fullerene therapy is under active study. It is possible that thanks to this discovery, in the coming years, many MS patients will have a new opportunity in the treatment of the disease.

Research in Montreal

The Montreal Research Institute has proposed another interesting way to treat multiple sclerosis. The new drug, consisting of two protein molecules, “heals” at the cellular level and restores the functioning of the immune system, reducing the attacks of T-lymphocytes on the myelin sheath. The drug treats not only the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but also affects the cause of its occurrence.

Methodology of Professor Neumyvakin

Hydrogen peroxide has an antiseptic effect

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Neumyvakin I.P. proposes to fight multiple sclerosis with ordinary hydrogen peroxide. He believes that MS is nothing more than an immunodeficiency as a result of slagging of the body, its fatigue, overstrain. To return all organs and systems to life and make them function normally, active oxygen is needed. As soon as the immune system recovers, it will immediately deal with the neurovirus that damages myelin. So far, there are few supporters of this unconventional technique, and the method itself has not been confirmed by scientific research.

Symptomatic therapy

It is carried out for all patients to reduce the severity of pathological symptoms and get rid of painful symptoms.

Nootropics and vascular drugs to improve memory, attention, thinking.
Tranquilizers to improve sleep, reduce negative emotional reactions.
Antidepressants help in the fight against depression in seriously ill patients, improve mood and appetite.
Analgesics, NSAIDs, amitriptyline stop chronic muscle and joint pain.
B vitamins, beta blockers are used for tremor of the extremities.
Muscle relaxants for muscle spasms.
A diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Therapeutic gymnastics, exercises, massage, yoga, water rubdowns.
Physiotherapy (electrophoresis, muscle stimulation, magnetotherapy).
Psychological correction, auto-training.
Reflexology (acupuncture sessions).
Homeopathy is rarely used and only where the symptoms are not severe.
Surgical (surgical) treatment to eliminate spastic paralysis.

Symptomatic treatment of MS should be adequate and of high quality.

An effective treatment regimen for multiple sclerosis has not yet been developed that would completely and permanently cure this disease. However, the search for an effective way continues. In addition, in 2016, scientists developed a vaccine against MS. So far, tests are being carried out on laboratory animals (the Russian drug Xemus and the vaccine). Perhaps in the future, an effective remedy will still be found in the fight against this terrible disease.

Sometimes we meet people suffering from this disease on the street or in other places while they can still walk. Anyone who for some reason has experienced multiple sclerosis (MS or, as neurologists write, SD - Sclerosis Disseminata) recognizes it immediately.

In the literature, you can find information that multiple sclerosis is a chronic process that leads to disability, but it is unlikely that the patient can count on a long life. Of course, it depends on the form, not all of them progress in the same way, but the longest life span in multiple sclerosis is still small, just something 25-30 years with a remitting form and constant treatment. Unfortunately, this is practically the maximum term, which is not measured for everyone.

Age, gender, shape, prognosis…

Life expectancy - 40 years or more - is an extremely rare phenomenon, because in order to establish this fact, you need to find people who fell ill back in the 70s of the 20th century. And in order to determine the prospects of modern technologies, you need to wait 40 years. Laboratory mice are one thing, humans are another. Complicated. With a malignant course of MS, some die after 5-6 years, while a sluggish process allows a person to stay in an active able-bodied state for quite a long time.

MS usually debuts at a young age, for example, between 15 and 40 years of age., less often at 50, although cases of the disease are known in childhood and on average, for example, after 50. However, despite the fact that multiple sclerosis is by no means a rare disease, the expansion of age limits does not happen so often, therefore the occurrence of multiple sclerosis in children is considered the exception rather than the rule. In addition to age, MS prefers the female gender, however, like all autoimmune processes.

Patients often die from infections (urosepsis, pneumonia), called intercurrent. In other cases, the cause of death is bulbar disorders, in which swallowing, chewing, the function of the respiratory or cardiovascular system suffer, and pseudobulbar disorders, also accompanied by a violation of swallowing, facial expressions, speech, intelligence, but cardiac activity and breathing do not suffer. Why this disease occurs - there are several theories, but its etiology has not been fully elucidated.

Forms and pathomorphological changes in the nervous system

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are very dependent on the area in which the pathological process occurs. They are caused by three forms that are in different stages of the disease:

Cerebrospinal, which is rightfully considered the most common, because its frequency of occurrence reaches 85%. With this form, multiple diseases appear already at the earliest stages, which lead to damage to the white matter of both the spinal cord and the brain;
Cerebral, including the cerebellar, ocular, stem, cortical variety, occurring with damage to the white matter of the brain. With a progressive course with the appearance of a pronounced trembling, another one is isolated from the cerebral form: hyperkinetic;
Spinal, which is characterized by spinal lesions, where, however, the thoracic region suffers more often than others;

Pathological changes in multiple sclerosis are associated with the formation of multiple dense red-gray plaques, forming foci of demyelination (destruction of myelin) of the pyramidal, cerebellar tracts and other parts of the central nervous system (central nervous system) or peripheral nervous system. The plaques sometimes merge with each other and reach quite impressive sizes (several centimeters in diameter).

In the affected areas (the focus of multiple sclerosis), mainly T-helpers accumulate (with a decrease in the content of T-suppressors in the peripheral blood), immunoglobulins, mainly IgG, while the presence of Ia antigen is characteristic of the center of the focus of multiple sclerosis. The period of exacerbation is characterized by a decrease in the activity of the complement system, namely, its components C2, C3. To determine the level of these indicators, specific laboratory tests are used to help establish the diagnosis of MS.

Clinical manifestations, or rather, their absence, the duration and severity of remission of Sclerosis Disseminata are determined by the onset of intensive treatment and the corresponding reaction of the body - remyelination.

It should be noted that MS has nothing to do with other forms of sclerosis, although it is called sclerosis. Many people, explaining their forgetfulness inherent in old age, refer to sclerosis, however, in the case of multiple sclerosis, although the intellectual abilities of a person suffer, it has a completely different (autoimmune) mechanism and occurs for completely different reasons. The nature of plaques in and MS is also different, if clerotic vascular damage (!) Is due to the deposition of cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins - LDL), then in this situation foci of demyelination arise as a result of the replacement of normal nerve fibers with connective tissue. Foci are scattered randomly in different areas of the brain and spinal cord. Of course, the function of this area is significantly impaired. Plaques can be detected myelo-or.

What can cause multiple sclerosis?

Discussions defending one or another point of view regarding the etiology of multiple sclerosis continue to this day. The main role, however, belongs to autoimmune processes., which are considered the main cause of the development of MS. Violation in the immune system, or rather, an inadequate response to some viral and bacterial infections is also not discounted by many authors. In addition, the prerequisites that contribute to the development of this pathological condition include:

The impact of toxins on the human body;
Increased level of background radiation;
The influence of ultraviolet radiation (in white-skinned lovers of the annual "chocolate" tan obtained in southern latitudes);
Geographical location of the zone of permanent residence (cold climatic conditions);
Permanent psycho-emotional stress;
Surgical interventions and injuries;
allergic reactions;
No apparent reason;
The genetic factor, on which I would like to dwell in particular.

SD does not apply to hereditary pathology, therefore it is not at all necessary that a sick mother (or father) will have a known sick child, however, it has been reliably proven that the HLA system (histocompatibility system) has a certain significance in the development of the disease, in particular, locus A antigens (HLA-A3), locus B (HLA-B7), which, when studying the phenotype of a patient with multiple sclerosis, are detected almost 2 times more often, and the D-region - DR2 antigen, which is determined in patients up to 70% of cases (against healthy population).

Thus, we can say that these antigens carry genetic information about the degree of resistance (sensitivity) of a certain organism to various etiological factors. The decrease in the level of T-suppressors that suppress unnecessary immunological reactions, natural killer (NK-cells) involved in cellular immunity, and interferon, which ensures the normal functioning of the immune system, characteristic of multiple sclerosis, may be due to the presence of certain histocompatibility antigens, since the HLA system genetically controls the production of these components.

From the onset of clinical manifestations to the progressive course of multiple sclerosis

main symptoms of MS

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis do not always correspond to the stage of the pathological process, exacerbations can be repeated at different intervals: at least after a few years, at least after a few weeks. Yes, and a relapse can last only a few hours, and can reach up to several weeks, however, each new exacerbation is more difficult than the previous one, which is due to the accumulation of plaques and the formation of confluent, capturing all new areas. This means that Sclerosis Disseminata is characterized by a remitting course. Most likely, because of this inconstancy, neurologists have come up with a different name for multiple sclerosis - a chameleon.

The initial stage also does not differ in certainty, the disease can develop gradually, but in rare cases it can give a rather acute onset. In addition, at an early stage, the first signs of the disease may not be noticed, since the course of this period is often asymptomatic, even if plaques are already present. A similar phenomenon is explained by the fact that with a few foci of demyelination, healthy nervous tissue takes on the functions of the affected areas and thus compensates for them.

In some cases one symptom may appear, such as blurred vision in one or both eyes in the cerebral form (ocular variety) SD. Patients in such a situation may not go anywhere at all or limit themselves to a visit to an ophthalmologist, who is not always able to attribute these symptoms to the first signs of a serious neurological disease, which is multiple sclerosis, since the optic nerve discs (ON) could not change their color yet (in the future in MS, the temporal halves of the ON will turn pale). In addition, it is this form that gives long-term remissions, so patients can forget about the disease and consider themselves quite healthy.

The basis of neurological diagnosis is the clinical picture of the disease

The diagnosis of Sclerosis Disseminata is made by a neurologist, based on a variety of neurological symptoms, manifested by:

A tremor of the arms, legs or the whole body, a change in handwriting, it is difficult to hold an object in the hands, and it becomes problematic to bring a spoon to your mouth;
With impaired coordination of movements, which is very noticeable in gait, at first the patients walk with a stick, and subsequently they are transplanted into a wheelchair. Although some still stubbornly try to do without it, since they themselves are not able to sit in it, therefore they try to move with the help of special devices for walking, leaning on both hands, and in other cases they use a chair or stool for this purpose. Interestingly, for some time (sometimes quite a long time) they succeed;
Nystagmus - rapid eye movements that the patient, following the movement of the neurological hammer to the left and right sides, up and down alternately, cannot control himself;
Weakening or disappearance of some reflexes, abdominal ones in particular;
By a change in taste, a person does not react to the foods he once loved and does not enjoy food, therefore he noticeably loses weight;
Numbness, tingling (paresthesia) in the arms and legs, weakness in the limbs, patients no longer feel a hard surface, lose their shoes;
Vegetative-vascular disorders (dizziness), why at first multiple sclerosis is differentiated from;
Paresis of the facial and trigeminal nerve, which is manifested by the distortion of the face, mouth, non-closure of the eyelids;
Violation of the menstrual cycle in women and sexual weakness in men;
A disorder of the function of urination, which is manifested by increased urge in the initial stage and urinary retention (by the way, and stool too) with the progression of the process;
A transient decrease in visual acuity in one eye or both, double vision, loss of visual fields, and later - retrobulbar neuritis (optic neuritis), which can result in complete blindness;
Scanned (slow, divided into syllables and words) speech;
Motility disorder;
Mental disorder (in many cases), accompanied by a decrease in intellectual abilities, criticism and self-criticism (depressive states or, conversely, euphoria). These disorders are most characteristic of the cortical version of the cerebral form of MS;
epileptic seizures.

Neurologists use a combination of several signs to diagnose MS. In such cases, symptom complexes characteristic of SD are used: Charcot's triad (trembling, nystagmus, speech) and Marburg's pentad (trembling, nystagmus, speech, disappearance of abdominal reflexes, pallor of the optic discs)

How to understand the variety of signs?

Of course, not all signs of multiple sclerosis can be present at the same time, although the cerebrospinal form is particularly diverse, that is, it depends on the form, stage and degree of progression of the pathological process.

Usually, the classic course of MS is characterized by an increase in the severity of clinical manifestations, which lasts 2-3 years, in order to give out detailed symptoms in the form of:

Paresis (loss of function) of the lower extremities;
Registration of pathological foot reflexes (positive symptom of Babinsky, Rossolimo);
Marked unsteadiness of gait. Subsequently, patients generally lose the ability to move independently, however, there are cases when patients cope well with a bicycle, most importantly, holding on to a fence, sit on it, and then go normally (it is difficult to explain such a phenomenon);
An increase in the severity of trembling (the patient is not able to perform a finger-nose test - reach the tip of the nose with the index finger, and the knee-heel test);
Decrease and disappearance of abdominal reflexes.

Of course, the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is primarily based on neurological symptoms, and Assistance in establishing diagnoses is provided by laboratory tests:

Confirms the diagnosis (MRI), as well as blood from a vein and spinal punctate, allowing the detection of oligoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG), which are recognized as markers of multiple sclerosis.

Disappointing Diagnosis - SD

In the initial stages of the spinal form of multiple sclerosis, its should be differentiated from(the same paresthesias, the same weakness in the legs and sometimes even pain). Other forms are also differentiated from many neurological and vascular diseases, so the diagnosis of MS requires time and constant monitoring by a neurologist, which is possible only in stationary conditions. As a rule, the doctor is in no hurry to tell the patient about his suspicions, because he himself wants to hope for the best. Still, a doctor, although accustomed to everything, can also be difficult to inform a person about such a serious illness, because the patient will immediately go to shovel the literature on this topic. And he will draw his own conclusions.

The condition of a sick person continues to deteriorate, however, some are rapidly, some are not very (the disease can drag on for years), but its signs will already be noticeable, since irreversible processes have occurred in the CNS.

The patient receives 2, and then 1 group of disability, as he is practically incapable of any kind of work. With a remitting (benign) form, the disability group can go in this order: 3, 2, 1 until MS finally wins and takes over the human body.

MS flow patterns

Meanwhile, every patient asks the question: is it possible to cure multiple sclerosis? Of course, a person hopes that a cure has already been found, and he will hear a positive answer, which, unfortunately, will still be negative. The pathological process with the help of modern methods of treatment can be significantly suspended, but medicine has not yet learned how to completely cure MS. True, very scientists pin great hopes on stem cell transplantation, which, once in the body, begin to restore the myelin sheaths of the nervous tissue to a normal state. It is clear that such treatment is not only very expensive, but also inaccessible, due to the particular difficulty in isolating and transplanting them.

And yet he needs to be treated!

The treatment of multiple sclerosis also depends on the forms and stages of the disease, but there are general provisions that the attending physician adheres to:

The appointment of therapeutic plasmapheresis. The procedure, which entered medical practice somewhere in the 80s of the last century, has not lost its significance in our time, since in most cases it has a very favorable effect on the course of SD. Its essence lies in the fact that the blood taken from the patient with the help of special equipment is divided into red blood (ermassa) and plasma. The erythrocyte mass returns to the patient's bloodstream, and the "bad" plasma containing harmful substances is removed. Instead, the patient is given albumin, donor fresh frozen plasma or plasma-substituting solutions (hemodez, reopoliglyukin, etc.);
The use of synthetic interferons (β-interferon), which began to be used at the end of the last century;
Treatment with glucocorticoids: prednisolone, dexamethasone, metipred, or ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone;
The use of B vitamins, biostimulants and myelin-forming drugs: biosynax, kronassial;
For additional treatment - the appointment of cytostatics: cyclophosphamide, azathioprine;
Addition of muscle relaxants (mydocalm, liorezal, milliktin) to reduce high muscle tone.

It should be noted that in the 21st century, the treatment of multiple sclerosis is markedly different from that of, say, 20 years ago. A breakthrough in the treatment of this disease was the use of new methods of treatment that can prolong remission up to 40 years or more.

In 2010, the immunomodulatory drug cladribine (trade name Movectro) entered medical practice in Russia. One of the dosage forms is tablets, which patients really like, besides, they prescribe it in courses 2 times a year (very convenient), but there is a “BUT”: the drug is used only in case remittent current multiple sclerosis and is absolutely not indicated in the progressive form, therefore, it is prescribed with extreme caution.

Recently, the popularity of monoclonal antibody (MA) preparations has been growing, which were synthesized in the laboratory and formed the basis of targeted treatment, that is, monoclonal antibodies (immunoglobulins - Ig) have the ability to act only on those antigens (Ag) that need to be removed from the body . Attacking myelin and binding to an antigen of a certain specificity, antibodies form complexes with this Ag, which are subsequently removed, and, therefore, can no longer be harmful. In addition, MA, once in the patient's body, contribute to the activation of the immune system in relation to other foreign, and therefore not very useful, antigens.

And, of course, the most advanced, most effective, but the most expensive and far from accessible to everyone is the latest technology that has been used in Russia since 2003. This is stem cell transplantation (SC). By regenerating white matter cells, eliminating scars formed as a result of the destruction of myelin, stem cells restore conductivity and function of the affected areas. In addition, SCs have a positive effect on the regulatory ability of the immune system, so I want to believe that the future belongs to them and multiple sclerosis will still be defeated.

Ethnoscience. Is it possible?

With multiple sclerosis hardly have to rely on the healing properties of plants if scientists all over the world have been struggling with this problem for so many years. Of course, the patient can add to the main treatment:

Honey (200 grams) with onion juice (200 grams), which will be taken 1 hour before meals three times a day.
Or mummy (5 grams), dissolved in 100 ml of boiled (chilled) water, which is also taken on an empty stomach in a teaspoon 3 times a day.

Multiple sclerosis is also treated at home with clover, which is infused with vodka, a decoction of a mixture of hawthorn leaves, valerian roots and rue herb, a glass of brewed nettle leaves with yarrow is drunk at night, or other plant ingredients are used.

Everyone chooses as they wish, but in any case, self-treatment would be good to coordinate with the attending physician. But physical therapy for multiple sclerosis should not be ignored. However, here one should not rely only on oneself, excessive independence is absolutely useless in this serious illness. The attending physician will select the load, the exercise therapy instructor will teach you exercises that correspond to the condition and capabilities of the body.

By the way, at the same time, the diet can be discussed. The doctor who treats certainly gives his recommendations, but patients often try to expand their knowledge in the field of nutrition, so they turn to the relevant literature. Such diets do exist, one of them was developed by a Canadian scientist Ashton Embry, where he presents a list of prohibited and recommended foods (easy to find on the Internet).

Perhaps we will not surprise the reader if we note that the menu should be complete and balanced, contain the required amount of not only proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but also be rich in vitamins and trace elements, so vegetables, fruits and cereals must be included in the patient's diet without fail. In addition, you should take into account the constant problems with the intestines that accompany multiple sclerosis, so you need to try to ensure its smooth operation.

Video: multiple sclerosis in the program “Live Healthy!”

Multiple sclerosis: causes, symptoms, treatment

Multiple sclerosis (MS)- a chronic autoimmune disease in which the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord is affected.

Although "sclerosis" is often colloquially referred to as memory impairment in old age, the term "multiple sclerosis" does not refer to either senile sclerosis or distraction.

“Sclerosis” in this case means “scar”, and “scattered” means “multiple”, since the distinguishing feature of the disease in pathological anatomical examination is the presence of scattered foci of sclerosis throughout the central nervous system without a specific localization - replacement of normal nervous tissue with connective tissue.

The disease occurs in young and middle age (15 - 40 years) . At the moment, cases of this diagnosis in children of three years and older are known.
The primary progressive form is more common around the age of 50 years.

A feature of the disease is the simultaneous defeat of several different parts of the nervous system, which leads to the appearance of a variety of neurological symptoms in patients. The morphological basis of the disease is the formation of the so-called plaques of multiple sclerosis - foci of myelin destruction (demyelinization) of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord.

Plaques are typically a few millimeters to several centimeters in size, but as the disease progresses, large confluent plaques may form. In the same patient, special research methods can reveal plaques of varying degrees of activity - fresh and old.

Multiple sclerosis remains a mysterious and incomprehensible disease. Scientists classify multiple sclerosis as an autoimmune disease. This means that the human immune system shows aggression not to foreign factors (bacteria, viruses, etc.), but to the body's own tissues (myelin sheaths of nerves), causing their damage. During an exacerbation of the disease, foci of demyelination (i.e., devoid of myelin) and inflammation appear in the white matter of the brain. An important point is that against the background of powerful anti-inflammatory treatment or even independently, myelin is restored, and with it the disappearance of the symptoms of the disease - remission occurs. This attenuation of the process lasts until the next exacerbation.

In addition to white matter, other tissues are also affected: gray matter (the bodies of nerve cells) and nerve fibers (inside myelin). Their defeat occurs according to a different mechanism: tissues gradually wither, age rapidly. And this process is constant, it occurs not only during an exacerbation.

Causes of multiple sclerosis

The cause of multiple sclerosis is not exactly known. Some scientists believe that the disease is closely related to a viral infection suffered in childhood. During the disease, inflammation of the myelin sheath occurs, after a while the swelling subsides, but scars remain.

It is also believed that people living in warm climates are less susceptible to this disease than those living in cold ones. More often this disease affects women than men.

To date, the most generally accepted view is that multiple sclerosis can result from the interaction of a number of adverse external and internal factors.

Unfavorable external factors include

viral and/or bacterial infections;
influence of toxic substances and radiation (including solar);
nutritional features;
geo-ecological place of residence, its influence on the body of children is especially great;
trauma;
frequent stressful situations.

Genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis is probably associated with a combination in this individual of several genes that cause disorders primarily in the immunoregulatory system.

The central nervous system consists of gray and white matter. Gray matter is the bodies of nerve cells, and white matter is the processes of these cells, covered with a special fatty membrane - myelin. The processes go from one center of the brain to another and connect them through electrical impulses. To accelerate the speed of transmission of impulses and to isolate the processes from each other, the myelin sheath is needed. This structure is similar to wires in insulation.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Foci multiple sclerosis can be located in any area of the central and peripheral nervous system, therefore, the symptoms of the disease can be completely different and individually combined in each patient.

But still, there are manifestations of the disease that can be seen most often. The first signs of the disease may appear suddenly or against the background of an injury, illness, nervous breakdown, childbirth.

Sensitive disturbances: Many patients with multiple sclerosis have unusual sensations - a feeling of tingling (“like lying down”) in the arms, legs, or one half of the body; or "crawling", numbness, itching, burning, "shooting" or "flying pains". There is also a bad feeling of the floor under my feet (“I’m walking like on a mattress”, “it’s like cotton pads under my feet”, “I often lose my slippers and don’t notice it”).
Fortunately, although all these symptoms complicate the life of the patient, they do not pose a threat to life, do not lead to disability and can be controlled and treated with medication.
The defeat of the motor sphere: high tendon reflexes, pronounced tension in the legs, less often in the arms (due to increased muscle tone), and paralysis is also possible (“decrease in muscle strength in the arms and legs”).
Muscle spasms is a common and often disabling symptom of multiple sclerosis. The muscles of the arms and legs are usually spasmodic, which can make it difficult to adequately control the movements of these muscles.
Difficulty walking. Gait disturbance is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis. This problem is mainly related to muscle weakness and/or muscle spasticity, but body imbalance or foot numbness can also make walking difficult.
Cerebellar damage: incoordination in the body, staggering when walking, awkwardness and trembling in the arms and legs (“limbs do not obey”).
Dizziness. Many people with multiple sclerosis complain of feeling unsteady and dizzy. Sometimes the patient may have the illusion that he or everything around him is moving in a circle: this condition is called "vertigo". These symptoms are associated with damage to the complex neural pathways that coordinate visual and other signals to the brain and are necessary to maintain body balance.
Tremor (trembling limbs). A symptom that is quite often observed in multiple sclerosis. Often, tremor seriously complicates the life of patients and is difficult to treat.
Swallowing and speech disorders. People with multiple sclerosis often have difficulty swallowing. In many cases, speech disorders are also observed at the same time. This is due to damage to the nerves that are normally involved in these functions.
Visual disturbances: decreased vision in one eye, sometimes to complete blindness; black dot in the center of the field of view; feeling of cloudy glass, a veil before the eye. These are manifestations of retrobulbar neuritis (damage to the optic nerve in the area behind the eyeball as a result of damage to its myelin sheath).
Visual impairment is a relatively common manifestation of multiple sclerosis. Moreover, one of the types of eye pathology - optic neuritis - is detected in 55% of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Visual impairment in multiple sclerosis in most cases does not lead to blindness.
Nystagmus: impaired movement of the eyeballs ("objects double").
H urination disorders: inability to endure the urge to urinate, urinary incontinence (“I can’t run to the toilet”).
Damage to the facial nerve: weakness of the muscles of one half of the face (“the face is distorted”, “the eye does not close completely”, “the mouth moves to the side”); decreased taste sensitivity ("chewing grass").
Emotional disorders very often develop against the background of multiple sclerosis: excessive anxiety, low mood (depression) or, conversely, underestimation of one's condition, inappropriate cheerfulness (euphoria).
Chronic fatigue . This is the most common symptom of multiple sclerosis. Fatigue is usually most pronounced in the afternoon. This condition is characterized by progressive muscle weakness, mental fatigue, drowsiness, or lethargy.
heat intolerance . The deterioration of the patient's condition with an increase in ambient temperature is associated with an increased sensitivity of the affected nerve cells to changes in the electrolyte balance.
Increased sensitivity to heat . Most people with multiple sclerosis have an increase in sensitivity to heat (overheating - for example, after a cup of hot tea, a bowl of soup, after taking a bath ("hot bath" symptom) - can provoke the onset or exacerbation of symptoms of the disease)
Sensation of "electric current passing" down the spine when the head is tilted;
Intelligence disorders. Problems with the implementation of mental activity occur in about half of patients with multiple sclerosis. In most cases, they are expressed in mental retardation, as well as a decrease in the ability to concentrate attention and memory. In about 10% of people with this disease, such impairments take a pronounced form, significantly limiting their ability to perform everyday everyday tasks.
More rare symptoms of multiple sclerosis may include respiratory failure and seizures.

And this is not the whole range of possible symptoms in multiple sclerosis!
It should be noted that with multiple sclerosis there is not a single symptom specific, characteristic only for this disease. Each patient has an individual combination of various symptoms.
It is important to know that, despite all the variety of possible symptoms of multiple sclerosis, a particular patient may experience only some of them, while others never appear. Some of the symptoms may appear only once, then regress and never occur again. Thus, the course of multiple sclerosis is very individual, and it makes little sense to compare yourself with other people who have it.

All these symptoms, alone or in various combinations, develop within a few days and after the end of the exacerbation (most often, after 2-3 weeks) almost completely disappear.
Moreover, in the first years of the disease, restoration of functions can occur even without treatment and in a shorter time.
Or it may be that a woman will not even pay attention to a short-term numbness of her palm, a slight instability or a decrease in vision in one eye.

In typical cases, multiple sclerosis proceeds as follows: a sudden appearance of signs of the disease among full health. They can be visual, motor or any other disorders, the severity of which ranges from barely pronounced to grossly violating the patient's functions. The general condition remains favorable. Following an exacerbation, a remission occurs, during which the patient feels practically healthy, then again an exacerbation. It is already more severe, leaving behind a neurological defect, and so on until disability sets in.

The degree of disability of a patient with multiple sclerosis is determined using a special international scale, which is abbreviated as EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale). The minimum value of this scale (0) corresponds to the absence of neurological symptoms. With an EDSS value from 1.0 to 4.5, patients with multiple sclerosis are fully capable of self-care, while an EDSS value of 7.0 or more corresponds to a deep degree of disability in patients.
Neurologists around the world use this scale to characterize the condition of a patient with multiple sclerosis at the time of examination. The EDSS index, measured during repeated visits to the doctor, allows you to understand how the disease develops and how effective the treatment that the patient receives.

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

It is very difficult to diagnose multiple sclerosis and recognize it. An important role in the diagnosis is the symptoms and examination of the patient. It is necessary to check vision, sensitivity to pain, muscle tone, coordination of movements.

1. A detailed medical history and a comprehensive neurological examination should be obtained. However, the information is usually used as an additional aid, especially in MRI testing of the brain and spinal cord.

2. For some patients, it is necessary to examine the cerebrospinal fluid through a lumbar puncture - a biopsy. By analyzing samples of cerebrospinal fluid, a specific protein characteristic of multiple sclerosis

3. Computed tomography also plays an important role in the diagnosis of this disease. It can detect changes in the brain and spinal cord at an early stage. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the brain allows you to find areas of damagedwhite matter of the brain. These changes are called plaques.
Also, thanks to it, you can observe how the disease proceeds and the effectiveness of treatment.

But not in every patient the disease begins to progress, at a certain stage it can stop.

Multiple sclerosis - treatment

Scientists have come to the conclusion that multiple sclerosis is curable. The main thing is to make a correct diagnosis on time. Multiple sclerosis is a viral disease and treatment tactics should be based on the treatment of the virus so that it does not continue to develop.

This disease is autoimmune, and therefore should be treated accordingly or as an allergy. It is necessary to pay attention to the symptoms of the disease and also start treating them correctly. To date, many programs have been developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and the results have given a positive effect.

Patients with multiple sclerosis should know everything about their disease and treatment methods. Science has not yet found a cure for this disease, but it has developed many methods for treatment and they do a good job with this task.

Now every patient can choose the way to treat multiple sclerosis and keep the disease under control. It is necessary to start treatment in the early stages, when the inflammation process has not begun to spread further. All signs of the disease can be stopped by starting treatment.

The doctor will always help you choose the method that will suit the patient, so as not to disturb his usual lifestyle, and reduce the number of exacerbations. It is very important to pay attention to the side effects of treatment. Proper treatment will help the patient lead a full life, and this is very important for him. Treatment is prescribed according to the severity of the disease. With a slight exacerbation, vitamins, sedatives are prescribed, if necessary, then antidepressants.

With severe exacerbations, hormonal drugs. It is better to start making droppers, they will reduce the period of exacerbation. To prevent exacerbation of the stomach, Ranitidine can be prescribed. It is important to take a complex of vitamins.

Currently, patients with multiple sclerosis have the opportunity not to make injections, but to take Cladribine tablets. This is the easiest and simplest way to treat this disease. These tablets are taken twice a year in short courses.

The disease ceases to bother and patients have another chance to start life from scratch. Exacerbation does not occur and the patient can forget about his illness for several years. These are the first pills for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. A person can restore vision and the ability to move around on their own.

Treatment with folk remedies

Patients with multiple sclerosis should lead a healthy lifestyle. Give up bad habits when there is no exacerbation, increase the body's defenses, hide from the sun's rays on summer days, do not take hot baths. All this can only lead to a deterioration in the general condition.

Good medicine in the treatment of multiple sclerosis is mummy. It strengthens the body and compensates for the lack of vitamins and salts.

Propolis is a waste product of bees. Preparing a 10% solution - 10.0 propolis is crushed, mixed with 90.0 heated to 90 degrees. butter, mix thoroughly. Taken from 1/2 teaspoon, jammed with honey (with good tolerance) 3 times a day. Gradually, the reception can be brought to 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 1 month.

To strengthen the body's defenses, you should use withgerminated wheat seeds: 1 tablespoon of wheat is washed with warm water, placed between layers of canvas or other fabric, put in a warm place. After 1-2 days, sprouts 1-2 mm in size appear. Sprouted wheat is passed through a meat grinder, poured with hot milk, and gruel is prepared. It should be eaten in the morning on an empty stomach. Take daily for a month, then 2 times a week. Course - 3 months. Sprouted wheat seeds contain B vitamins, hormonal substances, microelements.

To keep blood pressure normal, pharmacies sell medicinal fees.

Beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis rubdown with apple cider vinegar diluted with water.

Useful juices from freshly squeezed vegetables and fruits. It has a good effect on the condition and oatmeal.

Helps to strengthen the muscles in the legs decoction of clover.

Massage, swimming, playing sports will help to put this disease in the background, and are good methods of treating multiple sclerosis folk remedies.

Multiple sclerosis - prognosis

An accurate prognosis for multiple sclerosis cannot be made. Multiple sclerosis is a very serious and severe disease of the brain and spinal cord. Life expectancy in multiple sclerosis depends on how the correct diagnosis was made and treatment started in time.

A good prognosis is the onset of the disease at a young age and when the exacerbation does not occur for a long time in the first years of the disease. After an exacerbation, motor functions are restored in a patient.

A poor prognosis is considered constant exacerbations, in which the cerebellum and spinal cord are affected. After diagnosis, the average life expectancy is 35 years. After 16 years, the patient needs someone else's help. And only a small percentage of patients cannot serve themselves and move around, after a few years from the onset of the disease.

I would like to remind once again that multiple sclerosis in each patient is “his own”, i.e. runs on an individual basis. You can never predict in advance how severe the manifestations of the disease will be, how often exacerbations will occur, and how long remissions will last. According to statistics, it is known that every fourth case of multiple sclerosis proceeds benignly - even after 20-25 years of the disease it is possible to remain practically healthy.

Multiple Sclerosis - Early Signs

Tell your doctor if you have any of the symptoms that are typical of multiple sclerosis. Seek medical advice if you have any complaints that may not be related to multiple sclerosis but are bothering you. You may not have multiple sclerosis, but due to the non-specific nature of the disease, it is best to have a professional make the final decision. Among the possible manifestations of multiple sclerosis, there are those that may require urgent hospitalization.

If you have changes in vision or pain when moving your eyeballs, go to your nearest emergency room. This may be a manifestation of optic neuritis, one of the most common early signs of multiple sclerosis. The use of corticosteroid drugs at the initial stage of optic neuritis can change the entire further course of the disease.
If you notice personality changes, experience sudden weakness in the muscles in your arms or legs, or difficulty breathing, go to the emergency room for an evaluation. Such symptoms are characteristic of multiple sclerosis, but may be signs of other serious diseases - a stroke, an infectious disease, an imbalance in the mineral balance of the body.
According to topten37.wellnet.me, medolaga.ru, www.eurolab.ua

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system in which the myelin sheath of nerve endings is destroyed, and sclerotic plaques from connective tissue form in its place. They interfere with the conduction of nerve impulses from the brain to the organs. The course of the disease directly depends on where the affected areas are located and whether there is inflammation in them.

Course of the disease

Multiple sclerosis has many manifestations. This is due to the fact that sclerotic plaques can appear in different places in the brain and spinal cord. They go through different stages of development. In this case, the patient may appear and disappear various symptoms.

The course of the disease is characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and remission (weakening or complete disappearance of symptoms). Such periods of health can be very long - up to 5 years. But, unfortunately, over time, exacerbations become more frequent. Properly selected treatment can reduce the frequency of attacks.

The variety of forms of the disease and its manifestations make it very difficult for doctors to make a diagnosis. The main symptoms of the disease are described. In this regard, until recently it was believed that multiple sclerosis is a very serious disease, always leading to disability. Mild forms, which tend to fade, were considered other neurological diseases. However, there are quite a lot of benign cases, more than 25% of patients live with this disease for several decades. At the same time, they remain able-bodied until old age.

How the disease will proceed becomes clear after the first outbreak. However, patients need to remember that exacerbation is always followed by improvement. And often it can last for years. In women, it almost always proceeds much easier than in men.

Types of the course of the disease

How MS will manifest itself largely depends on the changes that have occurred in the myelin sheath during the latency period. That is, when the disease has already begun to develop in the body, but no signs of it have yet been noticeable.

There are five types:

benign multiple sclerosis. The disease begins with numerous attacks. But over time, periods of remission become longer. The myelin sheath of nerve fibers has time to recover and the symptoms disappear. Those patients who have this particular form of the disease may believe that multiple sclerosis is practically curable. This form does not lead to disability and occurs in 20% of patients.
relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. With such a course of the disease, attacks of deterioration alternate with periods when a person feels healthy. In this case, the functions of the affected organs can be restored completely or partially. The period of exacerbation lasts from several days to several weeks. Recovery may take several months. This feature is typical for most patients, especially in the initial period.
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis. It is characterized by a gradual deterioration in well-being. This form proceeds without pronounced exacerbations, but leads to a steady loss of ability to work. Occurs in 15% of patients. More often in those who fell ill after 40 years.
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. At the initial stage, it proceeds according to the type of remitting, with exacerbations and improvements in the condition. But then it goes into a progressive form. Such a course of the disease can lead to disability in 5 years.
Progressive-remitting multiple sclerosis. The rarest form of the disease. With it, against the background of a gradual progressive deterioration of the condition, acute attacks periodically occur. After them, there may be an improvement in well-being. The onset of the disease in such patients is of the type of primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Depending on which part of the nervous system is more affected, various forms are distinguished. Thus, when the brain is damaged, cerebral form and in case of spinal cord injury spinal. If the damaged areas are located in both departments, then multiple sclerosis occurs. cerebrospinal form. Although some researchers consider them stages of the development of the disease, which can occur in one patient.

How to cure multiple sclerosis

While scientists continue to look for drugs that could eliminate the causes of the disease and permanently save the patient from its manifestations. At this stage, medicine uses drugs that relieve symptoms and alleviate the manifestations of the disease, prolong the period of remission and prevent complications.

There are two types of treatment, depending on the phase of its course

Drugs that are prescribed during exacerbation and deterioration
Interval treatment, which must be taken long-term during the improvement period

Treatment for exacerbations

An exacerbation is considered a deterioration in the condition that lasts more than a day. In this case, new symptoms may appear. Taking cortisone and adrenocorticotropic hormone during this period, in the form of tablets and injections, helps relieve inflammation and prevent the appearance of functional disorders. They also reduce the body's immune attack on the myelin sheath of nerves.

To achieve the best effect, it is necessary to start treatment as early as possible. This contributes to the rapid transition to the stage of remission and the restoration of the nervous system after an attack. With frequent inflammation, a combination of Cyclophosphamide and Cortisone gives a good effect. Also, the doctor individually selects drugs to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Interval treatment

Its purpose is to help nerve cells recover between attacks, protect the brain and spinal cord from attack by lymphocytes, and help the immune system function properly. For this, such drugs are used: Azathioprine, Cyclosporine A, Mitoxantrone, Methotrexate, Beta-interferon and Immunoglobulins.

It should be noted that more than 120 different drugs are used to treat multiple sclerosis. In each case, the doctor prescribes individually drugs and their dosage based on the frequency of attacks and the severity of the patient's condition.

In some cases, surgical treatment is required. To reduce the immune attack, the thymus gland and spleen can be removed. A bone marrow transplant is performed. In recent years, studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of the introduction of stem cells, which replace diseased brain neurons.

In conclusion, we can say that although multiple sclerosis is considered an incurable disease by official medicine, a large percentage of people manage to maintain their usual standard of living. To date, various immunosuppressors and immunomodulators are widely used for treatment, which can delay the development of the disease. New drugs and vaccines are constantly being developed. This gives hope that soon this disease will be finally defeated.