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UK Charity
No 1131517
Multiple Sclerosis
It is important to remember that MS is only one part of a person and not the person.
MS does not represent them, it is not their identity, they are as normal as the next person.
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- Glossary
- Acute -
characterised by rapid onset - usually with recovery. Not chronic or long- lasting. - Anaphylaxis -
an immediate and short- lived, usually severe reaction in which the body responds to what is perceived to be a foreign substance with exaggerated symptoms, such as extreme itching, swelling, and often life- threatening respiratory distress. - Antibodies -
proteins of the immune system that are soluble (dissolved) in blood serum or other body fluids. Antibodies are produced to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other foreign antigens. - Antigen -
any substance that triggers the immune system to produce an antibody - generally referring to infectious or toxic substances. - Aspiration -
inhaling food particles or fluids into the lungs. - Ataxia -
the unsteadiness and lack of coordination that result from the brain’s failure to regulate the body’s posture and the strength and direction of limb movements. Ataxia is most often caused by disease activity in the cerebellum. - Atrophy -
a decrease in size and strength of a part of the body due to disease or inactivity. - Autoimmune disease -
a process in which the body’s immune system causes illness by mistakenly attacking healthy cells, organs, or tissues in the body. - Axon -
the thread- like extensions of a neuron, or nerve cell, which conducts nerve impulses. - Babinski's Sign -
When the sole of the foot is scratched, the big toe moves up instead of down. It is an indication that there is a Lesion somewhere between the Motor Cortex, on the opposite side of the brain, and the lower spinal cord neuron - Anterior Horn Neuron. This is an indication of Pyramidal Tract Disease (Spasticity). - Brainstem -
the part of the central nervous system that houses the nerve centres of the head as well as the centres for respiration and heart control. It extends from the base of the brain to the spinal cord. - Biological Response Markers -
are biochemical substances that can be measured in the blood of patients following administration of the interferon's. - Black box warning -
black box warnings US - also sometimes called a black label warning or boxed warning, are designed to highlight special problems, particularly those that are serious, and to give health care professionals a clear understanding of a potential medical complication associated with a drug. - Black hole -
hypointense T1 lesions, In secondary progressive MS patients, "black holes" correlate with severe tissue destruction, especially axonal loss. - CAT scan -
pictures of structures within the body created by a computer that takes the data from multiple X- ray images and turns them in pictures. - Central nervous system -
the part of the nervous system that includes the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. - Cerebellum -
a part of the brain situated above the brainstem that controls balance and coordination of movement. - Cerebral cortex -
the outer layer of brain tissue. - Cerebrospinal fluid -
a clear fluid that circulates in the space surrounding the brain and spinal cord. - Cerebrum -
The large upper part of the brain, which acts as a master control system and is responsible for initiating thought and motor activity. - Chronic -
a term often used to describe a disease that becomes progressively worse, is of a long duration. - Clinically isolated syndrome CIS -
an individual's first neurologic episode lasting at least 24 hours. It is caused by inflammation or damage to the covering of nerve in one or more sites in the central nervous system - CNS. - Cognition -
high- level functions carried out by the brain, including comprehension and use of speech, visual perception and construction, calculation ability, attention, information- processing, memory. - Cognitive difficulties -
term used to describe memory loss, difficulty concentrating or solving problems. - Cognitive impairment -
changes in cognitive function caused by trauma or disease process. Memory, information processing, and executive functions are among the most commonly affected functions. - Coordination -
an organised working together of muscles and groups of muscles, which enables movement such as walking or standing. - Corpus Callosum -
a thick band of more than 300 million Myelinated transverse Nerve fibres. The Corpus Callosum is the largest and most important Commissural Fibre that interconnects the two Cerebral Hemispheres. It lies at the bottom of the Longitudinal Cerebral Fissure and is a very frequent site for MS Lesions. Black's Medical Dictonary -C.W. Havard, M.A., D.M., F.R.C.P. - 35th Edition - 1987 - Cortisone -
a glucocorticoid steroid hormone that has anti- inflammatory and immune system suppressing properties. Cortisone is produced by the adrenal glands or manufactured synthetically. - Cytokines -
T cells produce a type of protein called cytokines. In MS, cytokines can damage myelin. - Deep tendon reflexes -
the involuntary, jerky movements that are normally produced when certain spots on a limb are tapped with a hammer. - Demyelination -
a loss of myelin in the white matter of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). - Disability -
a restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being (as defined by the World Health Organization). - Disease modifying drugs DMD -
treatment intended to influence the course of the disease, alter its natural history, and treat the cause of the symptom rather than the symptom itself. - Dosage -
administration of a therapeutic agent in prescribed amounts. - Dose Titration -
starting out with a lower dose of medication and gradually increasing to a full dose over several weeks to let your body adjust to the medicine. - Double-
blind clinical study - a study (involving 2 groups of patients) in which none of the participants—including subjects, examining doctors, attending nurses, or any other research staff - know who is taking the test drug and who is taking a control or placebo agent. The purpose of this research design is to avoid inadvertent bias of the test results. - Dysfunction -
difficult or abnormal function. - Dysmetria -
a disturbance of coordination, caused by lesions in the cerebellum. Dysmetria is usually characterized by a tendency to over- or underestimate the extent of motion needed to place an arm or leg in a certain position. - Dysarthria -
slurring, inappropriate phrasing and lack of modulation in speech volume. Both slurred and scanning speech are very common types of motor- dysarthrias and are generally a result of lesions, in the brain stem or within its connecting nerve pathways - Efficacy -
the extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, or regimen produces a beneficial result under ideal conditions. - Electrical impulses -
in the body, electrical impulses travel amongst the nerves along axons, carrying messages or signals. - Electroencephalography (EEG) -
a diagnostic procedure that records, via electrodes attached to various areas of the person’s head, electrical activity generated by brain cells. - Electromyography (EMG) -
a diagnostic procedure that records muscle electrical potentials through a needle or small plate electrodes. The test can also measure the ability of peripheral nerves to conduct impulses. - European Medicines Agency EMEA -
is a decentralised body of the European Union with headquarters in London. Its main responsibility is the protection and promotion of public and animal health, through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. - Evoked potentials -
a testing method that measures electrical activity in the CNS. - Exacerbation -
the appearance of new symptoms or the aggravation of old ones, lasting at least 24 hours (synonymous with attack, relapse, flare- up, or worsening). - Expanded Disability Status Scale EDSS -
is used to measure disability levels in a variety of functional systems, such as balance, touch, vision, bowel and bladder control, or mood. - Food and Drug Administration FDA -
the US federal agency that is responsible for enforcing governmental regulations pertaining to the manufacture and sale of food, drugs, and cosmetics. - Foot drop -
a condition of weakness in the muscles of the foot and ankle, caused by poor nerve conduction, which interferes with a person’s ability to flex the ankle and walk with a normal heel- toe pattern. The toes touch the ground before the heel, causing the person to trip or lose balance. - Gadolinium -
a chemical compound that can be administered to a person during MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to help distinguish between new lesions and old lesions in the CNS (Central nervous system). - Genetic factors In multiple sclerosis (MS) -
genetic factors may play a role in causing the disease. This means that there may be an increased risk of the disease if a close family member has MS. - Health Canada -
the Federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health - Helper T lymphocytes -
white blood cells that are a major contributor to the immune system’s inflammatory response against myelin. - Hemiparesis -
weakness of one side of the body, including one arm and one leg. - Hemiplegia -
paralysis of one side of the body, including one arm and one leg. - Immune system -
a complex system of various types of cells that protects the body against disease- producing organisms and other foreign invaders. - Immunoglobulin -
proteins of the immune system that are soluble (dissolved) in blood serum or other body fluids. Immunoglobulin or Antibodies are produced to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other types of foreign antigens. - Immunomodulatory -
capable of modifying or regulating one or more immune functions. - Immuno-
suppression - a treatment that slows or inhibits the body’s natural immune responses, including those directed against the body’s own tissues. - Incidence -
the number of new cases of a disease in a specified population over a defined period of time. - Inflammation -
a tissue’s response to injury. Inflammation is characterised by mobilisation of white blood cells and antibodies, swelling, and fluid accumulation. increased blood flow with swelling, tenderness, redness, and heat. - Insulin -
a hormone that helps the body use glucose (sugar) for energy. The beta cells of the pancreas (from areas known as the islets of Langerhans) make the insulin. - Interferon -
a group of immune system proteins, produced and released by cells infected by a virus, which inhibit viral multiplication and modify the body’s immune response. These proteins are made in the body to help boost the body’s immune system and keeps a virus from multiplying. Synthetic forms of interferon are used in making interferon therapy. - Intramuscular (IM) injection -
injection with a longer needle that is given deep into the muscle - Intravenous -
meaning within a vein—the term is often used in the context of an injection into a vein. - Lesion -
damaged area in the brain or spinal cord caused by demyelination (also known as a plaque or sclerosis). - Leukocyte -
white blood cell. - Lymphocyte -
a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. Lymphocytes can be subdivided into 2 main groups: B lymphocytes, which originate in the bone marrow and produce antibodies; T lymphocytes, which are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus. Helper T lymphocytes heighten the production of antibodies by B lymphocytes; suppressor T lymphocytes suppress B lymphocyte activity and seem to be in short supply during an MS exacerbation. - Macrophage -
a white blood cell with scavenger characteristics that has the ability to ingest and destroy foreign substances such as bacteria and cell debris. - Magnetic resonance imaging MRI -
a diagnostic procedure that produces visual images of different body parts without the use of x- rays. Nuclei of atoms are influenced by a high- frequency electromagnetic impulse inside a strong magnetic field. The nuclei then give off resonating signals that can produce pictures of parts of the body. An important diagnostic tool in MS, MRI makes it possible to visualize and count lesions in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. A MRI can be used to detect plaques or scarring that might be caused by MS in the brain and spinal cord - Malaise -
a general feeling of bodily discomfort and being unwell. - MHC Class II modulator -
a treatment for RRMS that is presumed to change the way the immune system responds by working on inflammatory cells outside and inside the CNS. - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA -
UK regulatory agency who safeguard the health of the public by ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe. - Medsafe -
Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. A business unit of the Ministry of Health and the authority responsible for the regulation of therapeutic products in New Zealand - Minimal Record of Disability MRD -
a standardized method for quantifying the clinical status of a person with MS. - Monoclonal antibodies -
laboratory- produced antibodies, which can be programmed to react against a specific antigen in order to suppress the immune response. - Monoparesis -
Weakness in one leg - Both can lead to problems with walking and balance.
- Motor neurons -
nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord that enable movement of various parts of the body. - Multiple Sclerosis -
a disease that attacks the CNS. - Muscle tone -
a characteristic of a muscle brought about by the constant flow of nerve stimuli to that muscle, which describes its resistance to stretching. Abnormal muscle tone can be defined as: hypertonus (increased muscle tone, as in spasticity); hypotonus (reduced muscle tone [flaccid paralysis]); or atony (loss of muscle tone). Muscle tone is evaluated as part of the standard neurological exam in MS. - Myelin -
a soft, white coating that surrounds and protects nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system. - Myelin basic protein -
proteins associated with the myelin of the central nervous system that may be found in higher than normal concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with MS and other diseases that damage myelin. - Myelitis -
an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord. In transverse myelitis, the inflammation spreads across the tissue of the spinal cord, resulting in a loss of its normal function to transmit nerve impulses up and down, as though the spinal cord had been severed. - Myelogram -
an x- ray procedure by which the spinal canal and the spinal cord can be visualized. It is performed in conjunction with a lumbar puncture and injection of a special x- ray contrast material into the spinal canal. - Necrosis -
death or decay of tissue that results from loss of the blood supply and oxygen needed to keep tissue alive and healthy. - Nerve -
a bundle of nerve fibres (axons). The fibres are either afferent (leading toward the brain and serving in the perception of sensory stimuli of the skin, joints, muscles, and inner organs, or efferent (leading away from the brain and mediating contractions of muscles or organs). - Nerve block -
a procedure used to relieve otherwise intractable spasticity, including painful flexor spasms. - Nerve fibres -
slender processes of neurons, especially the prolonged axons that conduct nerve impulses. - Nervous system -
includes all of the neural structures in the body: the central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves; the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of the nerve roots, nerve plexi, and nerves throughout the body. - Neurodegeneration -
the malfunctioning or loss of nerve cells which include neurons and axons. - Neurogenic -
related to activity of the nervous system, as in “neurogenic bladder.” - Neurologist -
medical doctor (or physician) with specialised training in conditions that affect the nervous system. - Neurology -
study of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system. - Neuron -
the basic nerve cell of the nervous system. - Neuropsychologist -
a doctor who does cognitive assessment and retraining of patients. Neuropsychologists specialise in brain- behaviour relationships. - Neuro-
psychologist - a psychologist with specialized training in the evaluation of cognitive functions. Neuro- psychologists use a battery of standardized tests to assess specific cognitive functions and identify areas of cognitive impairment. - Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) -
proteins produced by the body that may block (“neutralize”) the effectiveness of a drug therapy. - Non-
acidic formulation - neutral formulation of Betaseron which helps minimize stinging on injection. - Occupational therapist -
a specialist in rehabilitating patients with cognitive problems. The occupational therapist focuses on restoring the patient’s ability to carry out daily tasks at home, at work, and in the community. - Oligodendrocyte Cells -
are involved in the myelination of axons in the central nervous system. - Oligoclonal bands -
a series of distinct bands found in the immunoglobulin (a protein substance from immune cells) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The bands may be present in other conditions, but are helpful in diagnosing MS if other MS symptoms are present. - Optic atrophy -
a wasting of the optic disc that results from partial or complete degeneration of optic nerve fibres and is associated with a loss of visual acuity. - Optic nerve -
the bundle of over one million nerve fibres that carry visual messages from the retina to the brain. - Optic neuritis -
inflammation of the optic nerve. Also called neuropapillitis, retrobulbar neuritis. - Paraparesis -
weakness of the lower extremities, both legs. - Paraplegia -
paralysis of both lower extremities (legs). - Paresis -
partial or incomplete paralysis of a part of the body. - Paresthesia -
a spontaneously occurring sensation of burning, prickling, tingling, or creeping on the skin that may or may not be associated with any physical findings on neurological examination. - Placebo -
an inactive, non- drug compound that is designed to look just like the test drug. It is administered to control group subjects in double- blind clinical trials (in which neither the researchers nor the subjects know who is receiving the drug and who is receiving the placebo) as a means of assessing the benefits and liabilities of the test drug taken by experimental group subjects. - Placebo effect -
an apparently beneficial result of therapy that occurs because of the patient’s expectation that the therapy will help. - Plaque -
damaged area in the brain or spinal cord caused by demyelination (also called lesion or sclerosis). - Pregnancy category B -
safety category for pregnant women considering or taking medication. This category means that when the medication was administered to pregnant animals, there was no detectable harm to the foetus; these studies were not done in women. Because animal studies are not predictive of human response, Pregnancy Category B medications should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. - Pregnancy category C -
safety category for pregnant women considering or taking medication. This category means that when the medication was administered to pregnant animals, there was some harm done to the foetus. Category C medication should be used only if clearly needed (that is, if you and your doctor determine that the benefits outweigh the risks). - Pregnancy category D -
safety category for pregnant women considering or taking medication. This category means that when the medication was administered to pregnant women there was evidence of risk to the foetus. Category D medication should be used only if clearly needed (that is, if the drug is needed in a life- threatening situation or safer drugs cannot be used or are not effective). - Prevalence -
the number of all new and old cases of a disease in a defined population at a particular point in time. - Primary-
progressive MS PPMS -a less common form of MS than the relapsing- remitting form. PPMS is characterized by a slow but nearly continuous worsening of disease. - Prognosis -
prediction of the future course of a disease. - Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy PML -
A very rare and potentially fatal disease of the central nervous system (CNS). - Progressive-
relapsing MS PRMS -affects approximately 5% of all diagnosed patients. People with PRMS may go through a steady worsening of their condition after being diagnosed. They may also experience clear, severe relapses with or without complete recovery. - Pseudo exacerbation -
a temporary aggravation of disease symptoms, resulting from an elevation in body temperature or other stressor (eg, an infection, severe fatigue, or constipation). The exacerbation disappears once the stressor is removed. A pseudo exacerbation indicates symptom flare- up rather than new disease activity. - Reconstitution -
the restoration to original form of a substance previously altered for preservation and storage - Reflex -
an involuntary response of the nervous system to a stimulus, such as the stretch reflex, which is elicited by tapping a tendon with a reflex hammer, resulting in a contraction. Increased, diminished, or absent reflexes can be indicative of neurologic damage, tested as part of the standard neurological exam. - Relapse -
the worsening of MS symptoms or the appearance of new symptoms (also called attack, exacerbation, and flare- up). - Relapsing-
remitting MS (RRMS) -the most common form of MS that affects approximately 85% of newly diagnosed patients. RRMS is characterised by relapses that are usually followed by partial or complete recovery. - Remission -
a lessening in the severity of symptoms or their temporary disappearance during the course of the illness. - Remyelination -
The repair of damaged myelin. Myelin repair occurs spontaneously in MS but very slowly. - Sclerosis -
hardening of tissue. In MS, sclerosis is the body’s replacement of lost myelin around the CNS nerve cells with scar tissue (also called lesion or plaque). - Secondary-
progressive MS SPMS -a stage of MS that may come after RRMS. People with SPMS may have occasional relapses, minor remissions, and plateaus. Late in the course of the disease, they may experience a progressive disability. - Scottish Medicines Consortium SMC -
provides advice to NHS Boards and their Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees (ADTCs) across Scotland about the status of all newly licensed medicines, all new formulations of existing medicines and new indications for established products (licensed from January 2002). - Spasticity -
A state of increased muscle tone leading to muscle tightness, stiffness and spasms. - Speech language pathologist -
a specialist in rehabilitating patients who are having problems speaking and communicating. - Spinal cord -
the spinal cord is the major bundle of nerves that carry nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. - Stance ataxia -
an inability to stand upright due to disturbed coordination of the involved muscles, which results in swaying and a tendency to fall in one or another direction. - Subcutaneous -
Means under the skin. - Subcutaneous injection -
Injections with a shorter needle given into the fatty layer just under the skin. - Suppressor T lymphocytes -
white blood cells that act as part of the immune system and may be in short supply during an MS exacerbation. - T cell A lymphocyte -
white blood cell that develops in the bone marrow, matures in the thymus, and works as part of the immune system in the body. - Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) -
TGA is Australia's regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices. - Transverse myelitis -
an acute attack of inflammatory demyelination that involves both sides of the spinal cord. The spinal cord loses its ability to transmit nerve impulses. - Vertigo -
a dizzying sensation of the environment spinning, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. - Virus -
The specific agent of an infectious disease. - Visual acuity -
clarity of vision. Acuity is measured as a fraction of normal vision. 20/20 vision indicates an eye that sees at 20 feet what a normal eye should see at 20 feet; 20/400 vision indicates an eye that sees at 20 feet what a normal eye sees at 400 feet. - Wallerian Degeneration -
axonal degeneration without local Inflammation and before local demyelination that results from a distal injury to the same axon. Wallerian Degeneration commonly occurs, sometime after a distant axonal part has been severed. - White matter -
part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibres and appears white, in contrast to the cortex of the brain, which contains nerve cell bodies and appears grey in colour.