Conditions Effecting the Nervous System and PharmacotherapyPart Five: Neurodegenerative DX- Multiple Sclerosis MS Flashcards
Exam 4 (Final)
Multiple Sclerosis: What is it?
Chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder damages myelin sheath of CNS neurons
Multiple Sclerosis:
What happens in MS?
Immune system (lymphocytes & macrophages) attack myelin sheath (insulation) surrounding nerve fibers
Multiple Sclerosis:
What gets interrupted?
Electrical impulse conduction gets interrupted
Multiple Sclerosis:
What may stimulate an abnormal immune response?
Viruses may stimulate abnormal immune response
Multiple Sclerosis
What does it result in?
Results in inflammation, loss of myelin, scarring producing plaques (sclerosis)
Multiple Sclerosis
What are there periods of?
Initial periods of exacerbation (relapses/flares) & alternating periods of partial/complete recovery (remission) but sometimes unrelenting
Multiple Sclerosis
What happens to symptoms overtime?
Over time sx –> progressive worse – NO CURE!
Multiple Sclerosis:
How is the disease pattern?
Unpredictable disease pattern
Multiple Sclerosis:
What is the etiology?
Etiology unknown
Multiple Sclerosis:
When is onset? Who is it more common in?
Onset between 20-40 yrs of age, more common in women, but men have more progressive course
Multiple Sclerosis:
Where is there a higher prevalence?
Prevalence higher in northern latitudes
Multiple Sclerosis:
What are inconclusive risk factors?
Inconclusive risk factors:
smoking,
vitamin D deficiency,
obesity,
infection,
genetics,
autoimmune reactions,
environmental toxins
Patho of MS
What is the hallmark?
Hallmark is multifocal regions of inflammation & myelin destruction in brain, spinal cord, optic nerve.
Patho of MS:
What is mistaken by immune system?
Immune system mistakes myelin components of the CNS (not PNS) as foreign & attacks!!!
Patho of MS:
What is Oligodendrocytes?
Oligodendrocytes produce myelin, which insulates the axons and allows nerve signals to be transmitted.
Patho of MS:
What triggers release of inflammatory mediators & oligodendrocyte loss?
Autoreactive T & B cells, & macrophages cross BBB, attack myelin, trigger release of inflammatory mediators & oligodendrocyte loss
Patho of MS
What contributes to inflammation and injury?
Resident brain macrophages (glial cells) get activated, contribute to inflammation & injury
Patho of MS
What happens to myelin and oligodendrocytes?
Myelin destroyed and oligodendrocytes injured and die.
Patho of MS cont.
What occurs throughout the whole central nervous system?
Demyelination throughout the central nervous system.
Patho of MS cont.
What happens to destroyed myelin?
The destroyed myelin is replaced by hard lesions from the damage
Patho of MS cont.
What can inflammation do?
Inflammation can damage axons & oligodendrocytes
Patho of MS cont.
What happens as more myelin is destroyed?
As more myelin is destroyed, nerve conduction is slowed, resulting in weakness, coordination difficulties, visual impairment, and speech disturbances.
Progression of Multiple Sclerosis
Damage to Myelin
In the initial stages: What do attacks lead to?
Attacks lead to damage to the myelin sheaths in the brain and spinal cord.
Progression of Multiple Sclerosis
Damage to Myelin
In the initial stages: What is not yet impacted?
Nerve fiber is not yet impacted.