Contents:
- Medical Video: Update on Multiple Sclerosis | UCLA Neurology
- Types of multiple sclerosis are often considered similar
- 1. Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)
- 2. Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)
- 3. Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
- 4. Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS)
- 5. Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
Medical Video: Update on Multiple Sclerosis | UCLA Neurology
Multiple sclerosis, abbreviated as MS, is a chronic disease that attacks the functions of the central nervous system, such as in the brain and spinal cord. As a result, the brain has difficulty sending signals throughout the body. This disease can be divided into several types, based on the symptoms and conditions of the disease in your body. So, what are the types of multiple sclerosis? Consider the following review.
Types of multiple sclerosis are often considered similar
1. Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)
RRMS is the most common type of multiple sclerosis. About 85 percent of people with MS have this type of disease. RRMS is characterized by a phase of relapse (relapse) and a phase of remission (symptoms subside).
The relapse phase in all types of multiple sclerosis is thought to occur due to inflammation of the myelin sheath (nerve fiber protector). Myelin sheath allows for rapid communication between nerve cells. When the myelin sheath is damaged, the nerve cannot function properly.
Whereas during the remission phase, symptoms that appear will disappear partially or even completely. Some people can get their nerve function back, this means that slowly symptoms can be cured. However, in some other people, the symptoms recur, only some of them do not return at all.
2. Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)
PPMS accounts for around 10 percent of events in multiple sclerosis. PPMS is a type that is very different from the RRMS above. Because the symptoms of PPMS usually occur in people aged 40-60 years, while RRMS is mostly suffered by younger people, around 20-30 years.
In addition, almost all people who have PPMS experience early symptoms, which are difficult to walk. The reason is, PPMS affects the spinal cord so that patients have difficulty when walking or doing activities. In general, although the severity is different in each person, a decrease in body function in PPMS occurs gradually over time.
3. Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS)
SPMS occurs when people with RRMS begin to transition to other types of multiple sclerosis. About 50 percent of people with RRMS will develop into SPMS within 10 years. In this case, people who have stopped experiencing the remission phase will experience more severe symptoms, but remain stable.
Symptoms of this type of multiple sclerosis will usually get worse over time, but the signs are different for everyone.
4. Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS)
Experts believe that patients with multiple sclerosis type PRMS can experience disability more quickly than people with multiple sclerosis types of PPMS. This can happen because in PRMS, symptoms can recur when the patient's nerve function has decreased. This makes PRMS patients as if they were being attacked from two directions.
5. Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
There is also a fifth type of multiple sclerosis disease that is characterized by the appearance of symptoms such as the relapse phase, but the person does not meet the criteria for being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. So, it is not certain whether the disease will develop into multiple sclerosis or not.
CIS refers to the symptoms of the first nerve disorder due to inflammation of the central nervous system and damage to the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. To ascertain which type of multiple sclerosis you are experiencing and how to treat it, see your doctor immediately.
