Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease with unpredictable and often progressive course. In multiple sclerosis, the brain, spinal cord, optic nerves are damaged resulting in the impairment of the body functions.

The underlying mechanism of the disease is destruction of the myelin, or white fatty matter covering the nerve fibers (axons) and having electroinsulating function. This process is called demyelination. Demyelination is considered to occur as a body response to its own myelin. The foci of demyelination in the brain and spinal cord are called plaques. Their size can vary from several millimeters to several centimeters; the plaques can merge into the bigger ones.

Damage of myelin leads to impairment of nervous impulses conduction between the brain and organs, thus, determining the disease manifestations. At the early stages, when a patient already has the foci of multiple sclerosis in the brain, neurological symptoms of the disease can be hidden. The healthy nervous fibers compensate the function of the damaged ones unless their number reaches 40-50%, and only afterwards the focal neurological symptoms appear.

The causes of multiple sclerosis have not been defined yet. Although multiple sclerosis is believed to be an autoimmune disease, it is unclear whether these reactions are primary or secondary. If inflammation and demyelination in the brain tissue is caused by autoimmune attack against the brain cells, it is possible to suggest the primary nature of the autoimmune process.

Multiple sclerosis is not a hereditary disease. No specific gene is responsible for the MS development. A certain combination of genes may predispose to multiple sclerosis, but such combination of genes can be also found in healthy people. There is only a 2% probability that a child will develop this disease is the parents are affected with MS to.

The farther from the equator, the more likely MS is to occur. The risk factors for the development of MS may be infections and viruses. Though no specific virus triggering the autoimmune processes in multiple sclerosis has been defined, some investigators believe that typical virus infections in childhood can be triggering factors for MS development.

About 40% of multiple sclerosis sufferers demonstrate motor disturbances, for example, muscle weakness, and difficulties with coordination. MS patients can also develop central and peripheral paralysis of cranial nerves, most often – of oculomotor nerves, trigeminal, facial and hypoglossal nerves. MS patients can also suffer from sensitivity disturbances, such as numbness or tingling in the extremities. Visual problems, for example, decrement in visual acuity of one or both eyes, visual field defect, unclear vision, loss of light perception, colour distortion and contrast disturbances are observed in 20% of MS cases. Typically, MS sufferers complain of walking disturbances, easy tiredness, sexual dysfunction and uncontrolled urination. Neuropsychological changes in MS patients include cognitive impairment, behavioral disorder and lack of emotional control.

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