Re: Lesion placement implications

Posted By CCF Neurology MD - AY on January 05, 1999 at 20:24:23:

In Reply to: Lesion placement implications posted by Susan on January 05, 1999 at 10:29:47:






I was wondering if it was possible to have lesions in the brain that cause more serious problems.  This may sound stupid, but can lesion placement   make one forget to breathe or have respiratory problems?  What about swallowing problems?  How common is it to become blind?
If so, what are the chances that this may happen, and where would it occur?  The brain stem, perhaps?  Also, what are some of the worst case things that can happen as a result of lesion placement?
Thanks.  I have read that most people with MS die an average of seven years earlier than most people.  I am assuming it is due to some kind of lesion placement.




Thanks for your question.  I will be assuming that you are more interested
in what sort of "MS lesions" might cause the several ominous secenarios
contained in your message.  As you probably know, MS is a demyelinating
disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and its mechanism of neuronal
damage consists primarily in the destruction of the myelin sheath that
surrounds the axons, thus degrading/interrupting the proper transmission
of neural information.  Although less frequent than lesions in the cerebral
hemispheres, MS lesions can definitely occur in the different areas of the
brainstem, thus causing cranial nerve palsies (such as abnormal ocular
movements, altered scalp/skin sensations, vertigo, etc.), instabilities of
the cardiovascular and the respiratory centers (located in the brainstem).
The visual alterations associated with MS results from the optic neuritis,
an inflammatory processes of the optic nerve.  The life expentancy of a
patient with MS can be shorter than the general population, but that
statement is NOT true for every single MS patient.  End-stage MS can indeed
be very debilitating, and unfortunately the current level of medical knowledge
can provide supportive measures when the disease reaches that degree of
severity.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.