MS peak incidence is at what age?
30
What cells mediate the inflammatory process?
B cell & CD4 T cells
Why is the disease relapsing remitting?
Demyelination heals intermittently causing improvement of symptoms
Describe MS
Inflammatory process in brain & spinal cord causing discrete plaques of demyelination
What parts of the body does MS affect?
Brain
Spinal cord
What nerves does MS affect? What nerves does it never affect?
Affects central nervous system
Never affects peripheral nerves
What is protective against MS?
Early exposure to sunlight
Rare in the tropics
What genetic factors are linked to MS?
HLA-DRB1*15
What is the most common presenting complaint of MS?
Optic neuritis - pain on movement of eye/ deterioration in central vision
Spinal cord lesions would cause what symptoms in MS?
Numbness or tingling in limbs
What brainstem symptoms would be present in MS?
Ataxia
Diplopia
Where does demyelination occur with MS?
Optic nerve
Periventricular white matter
Brainstem
What are the differential diagnoses for MS?
SLE
Sarcoid
Vascular lesion
Cord compression
An MRI would show what changes in MS?
Plaques in periventricular white matter & brainstem
