Fræðigrein

Abstract Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and a common cause of disability among young people. MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease involving both inheritance and environmental factors. The disease is characterized by relapses and the symptoms and course are highly variable. The diagnosis is primarily clinical and supported by results of diagnostic studies. The importance of timely diagnosis has increased with the availability of effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to review symptoms, signs, diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Icel Med J 2009; 95: 583-589.

 

 

Picture 1. Rate of relapses per woman with MS per year, for three month period, before, during and after pregnancy.

Picture 2. FLAIR images in two planes that show lesions  localised  juxtacortical,¹ juxtaventricular² and in corpus callosum.³

Picture 3. T2 picture (A) shows typical finger like lesions (Dawson fingers), older in the front and one big active (<) with edema around it. FLAIR picture (B) of another case shows these lesions more clearly.

Picture 4. FLAIR image (A) shows big active lesions with surrounding edema and T1 image (B) shows half circular enhancement in the same lesions as in image A after intravenous Gadolinium contrast media.

Picture 5. FLAIR image (A) shows typical distribution  of lesions perpendicular to the lateral ventricles and T1 image (B) shows so called “black holes”.