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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially debilitating disease in which your body's immune system eats away at the protective sheath that covers your nerves. This interferes with the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Ultimately, this may result in deterioration of the nerves themselves, a process that's not reversible.
Symptoms vary widely, depending on the amount of damage and which nerves are affected. People with severe cases of multiple sclerosis may lose the ability to walk or speak. Multiple sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose early in the course of the disease because symptoms often come and go — sometimes disappearing for months.
There's no cure for multiple sclerosis. However treatments can help treat attacks, modify the course of the disease and treat symptoms.
- Olek MJ. Epidemiology, risk factors and clinical features of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Olek MJ. Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
- Multiple sclerosis: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm. Accessed Oct. 14, 2010.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Oct. 14, 2010.
- Burt RK, et al. Autologous non-myeloablative haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a phase I/II study. Lancet Neurology. 2009;8:244.
- Foley F, et al. Taming stress in multiple sclerosis. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/search-results/index.aspx?q=stress&x=0&y=0&start=0&num=20. Accessed Oct. 15. 2010.
- Harmon M. Exercise as part of everyday life. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/search-results/index.aspx?q=exercise&sitesearch=&x=0&y=0&start=0&num=20. Accessed Oct. 14, 2010.
- Medication guide: Gilenya. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.Label_ApprovalHistory. Accessed Oct. 20, 2010.
- Lucchinetti CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 18, 2010.
- Baclofen. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Tizanidine hydrochloride. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
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