What is multiple sclerosis?

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammatory demyelinating lesions of the central nervous system, the cause of which is still unclear and may be related to genetic, environmental and viral infections.  The clinical manifestations are diverse, with common symptoms including decreased visual acuity, diplopia, limb sensory disorders, limb movement disorders, ataxia, and bladder or rectal dysfunction.  This type is characterized by an obvious process of relapse and remission, with basic recovery after each attack, leaving no or only minor sequelae. 80%-85% of MS patients show this type during the initial course of the disease.  2.Secondary progressive type: About 50% of patients with relapsing-remitting disease no longer have relapsing remission after 10-15 years of disease, showing a slow progressive exacerbation process.  3.Primary progressive type: This type has a disease duration of more than 1 year, with slow progressive exacerbation and no remission recurrence process.  4.Other types: According to the onset and prognosis of MS, there are 2 rare clinical types as follows.  (1) Benign type MS: A small proportion of MS patients hardly leave any residual neurological symptoms and signs within 15 years of onset, with no significant impact on daily life and work.  (2) Malignant MS: Also known as fulminant MS or Marburg variant MS, the disease has a fulminant onset and reaches its peak rapidly within a short period of time, with severe neurological impairment or even death.  Children with MS: 95% of children with MS are relapsing-remitting type, 80% have similar characteristics to adults with MS, and their MRI-related spatial multiplicity and temporal multiplicity criteria are also applicable; however, about 15%-20% of children with MS, especially those younger than 11 years old, have the first attack of disease similar to acute encephalopathy or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis process, and about 10%-15% of all children with MS may have long-segment The diagnosis of MS is made when a new, non-ADEM-like attack is observed. Treatment: Acute treatment; remission treatment: disease modifying therapy (DMT); symptomatic treatment; rehabilitation.  1. Acute treatment: (1) Glucocorticoids: high dose, short course.  a. Adults start with 1g/d, intravenous drip for 3~4h, total 3~5d, if the clinical neurological deficit is recovered obviously, it can be stopped directly. If the recovery of clinical neurological deficit is not obvious, it can be changed to oral prednisone acetate or prednisolone 60~80mg, 1 time/d, reduce 5~10mg every 2d until it is discontinued, the total course of treatment should not exceed 3~4 weeks.  b. For children, 20~30mg/(kg-d) by body weight, intravenous drip for 3~4h, 1 time/d for 5d, if the symptoms are completely relieved, it can be stopped directly, otherwise, oral prednisone acetate or prednisolone can be continued, 1mg/(kg-d), reduce 5mg every 2d until discontinued.  (2) Plasma exchange: In acute severe cases or those who are ineffective to hormone therapy, plasma exchange can be applied for 5-7 d within 2-3 weeks of onset.  (3) IVIG lacks evidence of effectiveness and is only used as an alternative treatment. It is used for pregnant or lactating women, adult patients who cannot be treated with hormone therapy or pediatric patients who have failed to respond to hormone therapy. The recommended usage is: IVIG 0.4g/(kg-d) for 5d as a course of treatment. After 5d, if it is ineffective, the patient is not recommended to continue it. If it is effective but the efficacy is not particularly satisfactory, it can be continued for 1d per week for 3~4 weeks.  2, remission treatment: goal: MS is a lifelong disease, and its remission treatment is mainly aimed at controlling disease progression, and disease modifying therapy (DMT) treatment is recommended. Commonly used drugs include teriflunomide, recombinant human β-1b interferon, alemtuzumab, mitoxantrone, etc.  3, symptomatic treatment: including symptomatic treatment of symptoms such as painful spasm, chronic pain, sensory abnormalities, depression, anxiety, tremor, cognitive impairment, etc.  4.Rehabilitation and life guidance: For patients with physical, language, swallowing and other functional disorders, corresponding functional rehabilitation training should be carried out early under the guidance of professional doctors.