Recent studies have shown that autoimmune diseases ranging from Type I diabetes to lupus and multiple sclerosis are on the rise, but often these conditions are misdiagnosed or the symptoms are dismissed as unrelated.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the myelin, the fatty-tissue sheath around the brain, nerves and spinal cord, is destroyed by the body’s own immune system. As the body also tries to heal itself, it creates scar tissue along the nerves, brain and spinal cord called scleroses or lesions. the lesions are also sometimes called plaques.

The plaques can lead to a variety of nerve-related issues which may seem to be unconnected. Common symptoms include double vision and muscle weakness, predominant on the right side, but other symptoms can occur.

The first test for MS is an MRI of the brain and spine to look for lesions, but a true diagnosis is confirmed only after a lumbar puncture. A process in which the neurologist uses a long needle to withdraw spinal fluid from the spinal cord. The area is numbed with a local anesthesia and then the fluid is extracted.

After a lumbar puncture, the patient must remain still and lying prone for about 24 hours with minimal movement to prevent extreme headaches caused by the fluctuation in the pressure of the spinal fluids. Drinking large amounts of fluids, especially heavily caffeinated drinks, can help to prevent side effects.

Once the lumbar puncture is performed, the fluid is sent to a lab to “settle” for several weeks. The presence of rings in the spinal fluid as it settles is an indicator of MS.

The problem with diagnosing multiple sclerosis is that even though incidents are increasing, it is still a relatively rare disease. In addition, it strikes women more than men, hitting primarily women in their child-bearing years (ages 20 to 40) who have grown up in a cool climate and are of Northern European descent.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pm.