http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/2007/04/24/nerve-fibers-are-severed-by-inflammation-in-ms-lesions-leading-to-permanent-disabilities/ A publication of United Spinal Association and the CMSC/North American Research Committee on MS Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:25:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/2007/04/24/nerve-fibers-are-severed-by-inflammation-in-ms-lesions-leading-to-permanent-disabilities/#comment-2245 Brenda Donahue Sun, 27 May 2007 21:53:49 +0000 http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/?p=194#comment-2245 THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE VERY GOOD INFORMATION--- I--FEEL GOOD TO--LERAN THESE THINGS IN MORE CLEAR EXPLAINTING THAT WAS NOT SAID IN OTHER INFORMATION FROM OTHERS-----SINCERELY,BRENDA DONAHUE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE VERY GOOD INFORMATION— I–FEEL GOOD TO–LERAN THESE THINGS IN MORE CLEAR EXPLAINTING THAT WAS NOT SAID IN OTHER INFORMATION FROM OTHERS—–SINCERELY,BRENDA DONAHUE

]]> http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/2007/04/24/nerve-fibers-are-severed-by-inflammation-in-ms-lesions-leading-to-permanent-disabilities/#comment-2172 Lauren Roberts Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:20:38 +0000 http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/?p=194#comment-2172 A very well written article. Of particular interest to me were the following conclusions: "..damage from lesions that are “clinically silent” (that is, those that don’t cause obvious symptoms), from lesions in the gray matter of the brain, and from the cumulative loss of axons (Figure 2) all underlie the permanent disability that most people with MS eventually experience." "..Damage from clinically silent lesions is significant. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been extremely useful in extending researchers’ understanding of MS. MRI scans show that there are many more lesions in the nervous system of many people with MS than might be expected from their disabilities. This seems to be because most lesions occur in parts of the nervous system that are not immediately responsible for some sort of behavioral output, like walking or speaking, or for sensory perception. Therefore, even during the “remitting” phases of RRMS, there is generally ongoing damage from MS in these clinically silent lesions. Therefore, damage to the nervous system can be much more extensive than would be guessed by looking at a patient’s symptoms alone". "..The studies described here support the idea that anti-inflammatory treatment of MS should begin as early in the course of the disease as possible. By extension, suspected MS should be verified as quickly as possible, because many patients have silent lesions for years before their first acute neurological episode, and it is important to minimize this early damage. Likewise, treatment should be continued between relapses, to prevent or minimize damage from clinically silent lesions". As a patient with MS for 31+years, only re-classified as SPMS with relapses in mid-2005, I am now gratefully and thankfully on Tysabri(Natalizumab) therapy as I have not had one relapse nor disease progression since 10/06 (re-started Tysabri at that time when it became available again). I believe your article further supports the use of Tysabri's superior efficacy of 67% as a first line defense against MS, which is needed in EARLY treatment of MS, as it's Label states in part: "TYSABRI® is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to delay the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations." Thank you for a wonderfully written article. Lauren Roberts A very well written article. Of particular interest to me were the following conclusions:
“..damage from lesions that are “clinically silent” (that is, those that don’t cause obvious symptoms), from lesions in the gray matter of the brain, and from the cumulative loss of axons (Figure 2) all underlie the permanent disability that most people with MS eventually experience.”
“..Damage from clinically silent lesions is significant. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been extremely useful in extending researchers’ understanding of MS. MRI scans show that there are many more lesions in the nervous system of many people with MS than might be expected from their disabilities. This seems to be because most lesions occur in parts of the nervous system that are not immediately responsible for some sort of behavioral output, like walking or speaking, or for sensory perception. Therefore, even during the “remitting” phases of RRMS, there is generally ongoing damage from MS in these clinically silent lesions. Therefore, damage to the nervous system can be much more extensive than would be guessed by looking at a patient’s symptoms alone”.
“..The studies described here support the idea that anti-inflammatory treatment of MS should begin as early in the course of the disease as possible. By extension, suspected MS should be verified as quickly as possible, because many patients have silent lesions for years before their first acute neurological episode, and it is important to minimize this early damage. Likewise, treatment should be continued between relapses, to prevent or minimize damage from clinically silent lesions”.
As a patient with MS for 31+years, only re-classified as SPMS with relapses in mid-2005, I am now gratefully and thankfully on Tysabri(Natalizumab) therapy as I have not had one relapse nor disease progression since 10/06 (re-started Tysabri at that time when it became available again). I believe your article further supports the use of Tysabri’s superior efficacy of 67% as a first line defense against MS, which is needed in EARLY treatment of MS, as it’s Label states in part: “TYSABRI® is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to delay the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations.”
Thank you for a wonderfully written article. Lauren Roberts

]]> http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/2007/04/24/nerve-fibers-are-severed-by-inflammation-in-ms-lesions-leading-to-permanent-disabilities/#comment-2159 Achim Schlemmer Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:45:03 +0000 http://www.unitedspinal.org/publications/msqr/?p=194#comment-2159 Extremel well written article! I love the simple language used to explain the basic mechanisms of multiple slerosis. Thumbs up! Extremel well written article! I love the simple language used to explain the basic mechanisms of multiple slerosis. Thumbs up!

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