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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Re: Various Inquery
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Re: Various Inquery
by Lisa__0__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Lisa on April 24, 1999 at 10:17:42
Dear DR.,
I have some questions regarding myelin disorders, specifically MS and Transverse Myelitis:
ON MS:
1) Why is it that one is more prone to have an exacerbation of MS symptoms in the Spring or Fall? Is it because the "pathogen" is around that time of year. Whatever that unknown pathogen is....
2) In your opinion could Enbrel (something that binds Tumor Necrosis Factor in Rheumatoid Arthritis] be helpful in the treatment of MS; since TNF is associated w/MS?
ON TRANSVERSE MYELITIS:
1) Do the symptoms of an episode/s of TM ever go away. Knowing that TM is supposedly "monophasic," do the symptoms of a "monophasic" episode fluctuate (not over months BUT years] in terms of severity, not characteristics, i.e., if someone suffers a bout of idiopathic TM (not attributed to MS] can the symptoms [such as l'herimitte's sign, tingling, numbness and heaviness of the arms/legs] last and fluctuate [sometimes being less in severity/sometimes being more in severity]?
2) If TM {caused by something other than MS} can be considered an autoimmune rxn. and MS has some autoimmune relation, why is it that TM is usually monophasic in occurance, while MS you can have repeated episodes?
I have been wondering about these issues for quite sometime. I hope I worded my questions clear so they will be easily interpreted. Thank You for this site, I have learned so much from it.
Dear DR.,
I have some questions regarding myelin disorders, specifically MS and Transverse Myelitis:
ON MS:
1) Why is it that one is more prone to have an exacerbation of MS symptoms in the Spring or Fall? Is it because the "pathogen" is around that time of year. Whatever that unknown pathogen is....
2) In your opinion could Enbrel (something that binds Tumor Necrosis Factor in Rheumatoid Arthritis] be helpful in the treatment of MS; since TNF is associated w/MS?
ON TRANSVERSE MYELITIS:
1) Do the symptoms of an episode/s of TM ever go away. Knowing that TM is supposedly "monophasic," do the symptoms of a "monophasic" episode fluctuate (not over months BUT years] in terms of severity, not characteristics, i.e., if someone suffers a bout of idiopathic TM (not attributed to MS] can the symptoms [such as l'herimitte's sign, tingling, numbness and heaviness of the arms/legs] last and fluctuate [sometimes being less in severity/sometimes being more in severity]?
2) If TM {caused by something other than MS} can be considered an autoimmune rxn. and MS has some autoimmune relation, why is it that TM is usually monophasic in occurance, while MS you can have repeated episodes?
I have been wondering about these issues for quite sometime. I hope I worded my questions clear so they will be easily interpreted. Thank You for this site, I have learned so much from it.
Thank you for your carefully thought out questions, unfortunately the answeres are not so clear cut.
No pathogen has been isolated in MS so we cannot say that exacerbations are due to this factor, it is an interesting theory but there is no evidence either way.
Just because TNF is associated with the inflammatory response in MS does not means it is the root cause, so a substance that binds TNF would not necessarily be useful, there is no experimental evidence either way.
In a typical monophasic episode of TM the symptoms should disappear completely, if they do not go away it is not a monophasic episode.
The differences in MS and TM are probably ue to the fact that while both are due to immune system dysfunction they are usually completely different diseases with completely different behavior patterns. the may look alike superficially but the underlying causes and pathology is different in each case.
Follow Ups:
Various Inquery Freddy 4/25/1999
(0)
Various Inquery Lisa 4/24/1999
(3)
Re: Various Inquery CCF Neuro MD msf 4/30/1999
(2)
Various Inquery Lisa 5/01/1999
(1)
Re: Various Inquery CCF Neuro MD msf 5/04/1999
(0)