Medical Procedures
Attacking Multiple Sclerosis
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MS afflicts 350,000 people in the United States and is the most common disabling disease of people between the ages of 18 to 45. Worldwide, approximately 2.5 million people have MS. Statistics show twice as many women than men have the crippling disease.
Genetic factors make certain people more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. MS is also commonly found among people with northern European ancestry. However, people of African, Asian and Hispanic backgrounds are not immune to the disease.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers of the CNS. It also helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses.
When myelin is lost in key CNS areas, it leaves behind scar tissue called sclerosis. If myelin is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nervous system to transmit electrical impulses to and from the brain is disturbed. This lapse produces the various symptoms of MS.
The symptoms vary from individual to individual but, can include vision problems, abnormal fatigue, loss of balance, muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness and bladder problems.
Spasticity is also a common symptom in people with MS and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Individuals who have suffered a stroke or spinal-cord injury can also have spasticity.
Drugs that are currently being used to treat spasticity may cause memory problems, weakness and lethargy in some patients.
Researchers from Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas studied 10 patients with MS.
Patients were given levetiracetam, a drug used to treat epilepsy, for one to four months. The dosages were started at 250 milligrams per day and then increased to 3,000 milligrams per day.
Researchers found that levetiracetam decreases phasic spasticity in 100 percent of MS patients.
Spasticity is a key attribute in many MS patients' loss of the ability to walk.
However, tonic spasticity, which produces stiffness, did not improve. Side effects of the drug were generally mild. Levetiracetam also alleviates nerve pain, which improves patient mood. Consequently, patients are not in need of painkillers or antidepressants.
Researchers are optimistic and believe levetiracetam holds promising results. However, they realize the sample studied was very small. Researchers are aiming to find a medicine that can be used to treat multiple symptoms so that drug interactions can be avoided. Future plans also include replicating the study over a much larger population before reaching any firm conclusions.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright ©2005TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin