Multiple Sclerosis

Samira Ghaniwala

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease caused by activated T cells that gain entry into the central nervous system. The injury results from inflammation and T cell destruction. There are typical symptoms that co relate with the area involved. There are also remissions and relapses which can be triggered by certain factors. Diagnosis of the disease requires visualization of the lesions in the central white matter, on an MRI, Treatment is based on immunosuppressants and steroids to combat inflammation.

"Multiple sclerosis is an acute inflammatory disease that causes focal demyelination of the brain and spinal cord; it also causes axonal loss." (Poser, 2011)

Pathogenesis:

In multiple sclerosis activated T. lymphocytes enter the blood-brain barrier and initiate central nervous system inflammation, by recognizing myelin derived antigens as foreign, on the surface of the central nervous system's antigen presenting cells, the microglia. The resulting inflammation releases cytokines which...
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