Now accepting Telehealth appointments. Schedule a virtual visit.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS(MS) and its cousins, NMSOD and MOG

Although Multiple Sclerosis is the most common central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory demyelinating disorder, other CNS inflammatory disorders should be included in the differential diagnosis. Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease are less common but share some clinical characteristics, such as optic neuritis and myelitis, which can make a specific diagnosis challenging. However, these disorders have distinctive and generally different clinical phenotypes, prognosis and management. It is imperative to distinguish each from one another, especially since the treatment(s) can be different.

Ocular signs:

Optic neuritis (ON) is a condition in which the nerve in the eye becomes inflamed or irritated. ON is a condition that can happen because of a disease or without any specific known cause. A person who has optic neuritis might go on to develop multiple sclerosis.

The most common cause for ON is inflammatory demyelination of the optic nerve. Demyelination is a process in which the myelin is stripped off by disease. It is believed that ON is an autoimmune process, where for some unknown reason the immune system attacks tissues of the body causing injury. While this may occasionally occur after an infection, there is often no clear reason why the immune attack occurs.

Symptoms:

Author
Paddy Kalish OD, JD and B.Arch

You Might Also Enjoy...

ANEURYSM

An aneurysm is a bulging, weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel resulting in an abnormal widening or ballooning greater than 50% of the vessel's normal diameter (width). An aneurysm may occur in any blood vessel, but is most often seen in an artery.

NITRIC OXIDE and Health

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the critical components of the vasculature, regulating key signaling pathways in health. In macro-vessels, NO functions to suppress cell inflammation as well as adhesion.

SEPSIS

Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds negatively to an infection. The infection fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work malfunction. Sepsis may progress to septic shock.

MERKEL CELL Carcinoma(MCC)

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare type of skin cancer that usually appears as a flesh-colored or bluish-red nodule, often on the Face, Eyelid, Head or Neck.

Sciatica

Sciatica refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg. It is caused by injury to or by pressure on the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom of a medical problem. It is not a medical condition by itself.

HEART FAILURE

HEART FAILURE is a condition in which the heart loses efficiency, leading to a chronic mismatch between the body’s need for oxygen and what it actually gets. There is chronic difficulty breathing, uncomfortable swelling in the arms or legs (or anywhere).