Glossary

A

Axon: The nerve fibre which sends signals to the brain and carries signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Axons are normally protected by a myelin sheath, but this becomes damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to impaired co-ordination and/or altered sensations.

Beta interferon: A type of protein that occurs naturally in the body which has a number of effects on the immune system. It can be used to treat MS.

Central nervous system (CNS): Consists of the brain and spinal cord, which control the main bodily functions.
Cytokines: A family of naturally occurring proteins (including interferons) which act as messengers in the body and are involved in controlling the immune system.

Demyelinating: A loss of myelin in the white matter of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord).

EDSS (Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale): The most widely used disability assessment scale by which progression of MS is monitored. This ranges from 0 (normal) to 10 (death from MS) with the steps in between representing an increasing loss of neurological function. A score of 3 reflects moderate disability, 7 indicates a patient is wheelchair bound, and a score of 8 means bed bound.
Exacerbation: The appearance of new MS symptoms, reappearance of previous symptoms, or worsening of old symptoms, usually associated with inflammation and demyelination in the brain or spinal cord. Also called a relapse, attack or flare-up.

Glatiramer acetate: A synthetic protein used for treating MS that is thought to mimic myelin basic protein, which forms part of the myelin sheath that becomes damaged in MS.

Immune system: A very complex system that defends the body against infection and disease, it is made up of many specialised cells and proteins.
International units: A unit of measurement used to describe the amount of drug given. It is different for each drug.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Diagnostic procedure that produces visual images of different parts of the body without using X-rays. MRI has become an important diagnostic tool in MS, making it possible to visualise and count the lesions in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord.
MSPP (Multiple Sclerosis Partnership Programme): Set up and funded by Schering Health Care to provide specialist trained nurses to support patients diagnosed with MS. The programme provides nurses who support MS treatment centres around the UK.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): An inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that attacks the brain, spinal cord, and both sensory and motor nerves. The natural course of the disease is often variable and unpredictable from the start.
Myelin: An insulating sheath, which surrounds and protects nerves in the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged in multiple sclerosis, transmission of nerve signals to and from the brain becomes disrupted. This can lead to difficulty with movement (e.g. poor muscular co-ordination and impaired speech) and altered sensations (impaired vision). These are some common symptoms of MS.

NAbs (neutralising antibodies): Antibodies produced by the body in response to foreign proteins. Antibodies can bind to protein-based drugs such as interferon and may interfere with their ability to work.

Placebo: An inactive medicine given to patients in clinical trials so that the results from these patients can be compared to the results from the patients taking the 'active' medicine.
Primary Progressive MS (PPMS): A form of MS that is characterised by a gradual, progressive deterioration with disability developing from the onset of disease without remissions. Less than 10% of people with MS have this condition.

Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS): A form of MS that is characterised by periodic attacks – or relapses – associated with some degree of impairment, which subsequently resolve to a large degree if not completely, resulting in full or partial recovery. More than 80% of people with MS progress from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS, with around 40% of people with MS at a given time having the RRMS form.
Risk Sharing Scheme (RSS): A scheme set up by the Department of Health, in the United Kingdom, to share the financial risk of providing disease-modifying therapies for people suffering from MS with the companies that make these drugs.

Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS): A type of MS, making up about 40% of all people with MS, where steady progression can occur even between relapses. It is a more advanced type of relapsing remitting MS, but not everyone with relapsing remitting MS will develop secondary progressive MS.
Subcutaneous injection: An injection just beneath the fatty tissue below the skin.

Registered members: 338

Forum postings: 174