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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition caused by the body’s immune system attacking itself. This causes patches of inflammation in the brain and/or spinal cord.
It is characterised according to the progression of disease where symptoms may come and go (relapsing) or there is progressive worsening of symptoms with acute flare-up (progressive).
MS affects around 1 in 600 people in the UK.
Symptoms vary between different people with MS depending on which aspects of the nervous system their condition affects.
People may commonly present with the following symptoms:
The exact cause of MS is not known. It is thought to occur as a result of complex interactions between a person’s genes and their environment.
People with a family member with MS are more likely to develop MS themselves.
It is most common in regions with low sun exposure, such as the UK.
MS is diagnosed by a specialist doctor by speaking to a patient to understand their symptoms in full and by performing a thorough examination.
In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain and/or spinal cord can aid in making a diagnosis.
In some cases, examining the fluid around the spinal cord helps to make a diagnosis. In this test (lumbar puncture) a needle is inserted into the lower back under local anaesthetic to look for special proteins in the fluid.
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
There is no cure currently for MS, therefore treatment aims to slow progression of disease, treat relapses and improve symptoms.
Medications that aim to slow disease progression are immunosuppressant medications (e.g. teriflunomide, interferon-β) that are started in a specialist setting.
Relapses are treated with a short course of corticosteroids.
Symptomatic management is usually aimed to reduce symptoms of spasticity, bladder dysfunction, and pain.
Sativex® (nabiximols), a medicinal cannabis product, is a licensed treatment for MS-related spasticity in the UK.
Other medicinal cannabis products can be considered when first line therapies have not achieved adequate benefit in improving symptomatic management.
