Blood Tests For Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is no longer any new disease and it has become well-known by now. What's more, this disease is expanding to newer regions of the globe with the passing of each day. What is multiple sclerosis then? Well, multiple sclerosis can be defined as the disease of nervous system where it worsens over a period of time together with loss of feeling and loss of control of movement and speech. What does this indicate? This brings to the fore the concept that multiple sclerosis makes an onslaught on the concerned person's central nervous system that is constituted of an assortment of nerves and nerve fibers.

It is to be remembered that the disease of multiple sclerosis spifflicates or destructs the protein that defends the nerve fibers and hence involves a menace to his brain, spinal cord and eye or optical nerves. What is this protective protein known as? It is called myelin and helps in the communication between nerve cells. Keep in mind as soon as myelin gets burnt up, a breakdown takes place in the co-ordination of nerve cells. Its effect is visible in the behavior (that drifts from normal to abnormal) of the individual. In conjunction with this lesions and plaques occur on that part of the body where demyelination takes place. The individual's body, as a result, gives in to damage and disability.

However, according to doctors, it is quite difficult to diagnose multiple sclerosis on account of the presence of mild symptoms. What's more, it can suggest quite a few conditions that include stroke, emotional disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS, Lyme disease and others. For that reason there is the greater need of apposite device to discern the presence of the disease of multiple sclerosis and to rule out other causes.

Let's concentrate on the basic guideline of diagnosing multiple sclerosis. There are, in actual fact, two criteria. While the first one is that there must have been two attacks at least one month apart, the second is that there must be more than one area of damage to central nervous system myelin—the cover that surrounds and protects nerve fibers.

What types of tests are used to help diagnose multiple sclerosis? They include Magnetic resonance imaging (MR or MRI), clinical examination and tests of function along with evoked potential, CSF, and blood tests. It is learnt that the clinical examination conducted by a physician is enough to discern additional symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Therefore, an extensive review of mental, emotional, and language functions, movement and coordination, vision, balance, and the functions of the five senses takes place at every time. In this regard sex, birthplace along with family history and age of the concerned person is taken into account.

What is the necessity of CSF and blood tests? These examinations are made only if the aforesaid processes become unable to make the coveted diagnosis. It should be kept in mind that no clearly defined or formulated blood test for multiple sclerosis is there. However blood tests can close out other causes for a range of neurologic symptoms. These include Lyme disease, which is basically a group of diseases recognized as collagen-vascular diseases, some unusual hereditary disorders, and certainly AIDS.

• Matt Thompson
• 06/05/2009, 2:59 AM
• 0 Comments