Multiple Sclerosis - 2
•Mechanism of Disease:
•ecause is unknown
•ebelief is that genetic and environmental factors play a role
•ŽGenetic factors:
•these two HLA antigens are present in patient=s with MS
•~DRw15
•~DQw6
•ŽEnvironmental factors:
•~inflammatory immune response to bacterial and viral infections may trigger autoimmune response seen in MS patients
•e80% of MS patients have IgG produced in CSF that is directed against basic protein of myelin sheath.  This results in demyelination and formation of lesions called Aplaques@ in white matter of brain and spinal cord
•edemyelination may cause:
•visual distrubances
•lack of locomotor coordination