Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the CNS that is characterized by a demyelination of axons in inflammatory plaques which leads to a deficiency or complete loss in the transmission of nerve impulses.
The majority of patients have either relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) or secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Both forms affect women more than men; the female to male ratio is about 2:1. This difference in the susceptibility to these forms of MS is probably due to sex hormones. Animal studies have shown that testosterones are protective against the disease.
Patients with MS can experience partial or complete loss of any function that is controlled by the CNS. Depending on which areas of the CNS are affected and how badly they are damaged, the type and severity of symptoms can vary greatly. The diagnosis of MS is based on long-established clinical parameters and the exclusion of any other disease that might cause similar symptoms. Over the last 10 years magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has played an increasingly important role in the diagnostic process.
Multiple sclerosis cannot be cured but there are treatments both to slow down the course of the disease and to treat the symptoms. Current research activities in MS will eventually lead to new treatment strategies that might involve a combination of immunomodulation, remyelination and neuroprotection.
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