Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmune or Neurodegenerative?

[kwarendorf]

A friendly debate from CMSC/ACTRIMS.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/805251

Kyle

[maxthecat43]

Thanks for posting this Kyle.  It was an interesting article.  If they can really figure out what is the primary underlying problem, better and more effective treatments will be forthcoming.  

What I really liked though, was the assertion that more attention needs to placed on Primary Progressive MS.  Up to now, there just haven't been many options to our friends that have progressive MS.

Tammy

[cramp_n_mystyle]

Trust me not to understand what the author meant,lol! But,like Dennis said,I've heard the same thing thing,that almost everyone has been exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus,and antibodies can be found in their body.

From everything I've ever read,it is the viruses,the infections and the breakdown in our amazing immune systems that is causing so many problems with all our bodily systems.It only makes sense that the nervous system would come under attack,with so many invaders.Two examples in my own life are the Asian flu at the age of 2 yrs and chickenpox at the age of 7 yrs.

[Sailorsong]

In my opinion even mentioning Epstein-Barr is meaningless. Almost every person has that virus in there body. I forget the actual percentage, but it was in the high 90's.

Dennis

[kwarendorf]

I read that section differently. Saying that the Epstein-Barr virus may be a prerequisite to developing MS is different than saying that the Epstein-Barr virus causes MS. To me it's like rectangles and squares. All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.

Kyle

[cramp_n_mystyle]

Kyle,

I found the article very interesting;sometimes hard to follow.For instance mentioning that it's impossible to have MS without having the Epstein-Barr virus.And in the next sentence it seemed to be contradicting that statement by saying that if MS were caused by a virus,treatment wouldn't work.

I first learned about autoimmune disorders when my oldest daughter,then only a child of 12 yrs,was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.The year before she had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis;only because I kept insisting that something was wrong.

I've read quite a bit about viruses and the CNS.The body is truly amazing;the way pathogens invade the cells and cause injury to the organs is awful.

                                       Pat