About MS > Glossary

Attack
An attack, exacerbation or relapse is where a person experiences symptoms of MS. An MS attack generally refers to the time a person experiences new symptoms that they have not had before, while an exacerbation or relapse is the recurrence of symptoms that have occurred in the past. An MS attack can come on quite quickly, typically lasts for a few weeks, and can vary from mild to severe. It may be followed by a period of remission, where the symptoms improve either completely or partially.

Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune diseases occur where the body's natural defence mechanisms (the immune system) attack the body's own tissue. MS is believed to be an autoimmune disease. In MS the body mistakenly attacks myelin that protects central nervous system nerves.

Avonex
Avonex is the brand name for the synthetic reproduction of interferon beta-1-alpha, a substance that occurs naturally in the immune system and helps to reduce inflammation. Avonex is licensed in New Zealand for the treatment of people with relapsing-remitting MS. Treatment with Avonex is by a weekly intramuscular injection.

Benign MS
The type of MS that is sometimes referred to as benign is characterised by having few attacks with symptoms that mostly or completely improve during remission and experiencing little or no disability even late into life.

Betaferon
Betaferon is the brand name for the synthetic reproduction of interferon beta-1-beta, a substance that occurs naturally in the immune system and helps to reduce inflammation. Betaferon is licensed in New Zealand for the treatment of people with relapsing-remitting MS. Treatment with Betaferon requires a subcutaneous injection every other day.

Beta-interferon
The interferons are a group of naturally occurring signalling molecules in the immune system. Beta-interferon reduces inflammation, and synthetic reproductions of this substance are licensed as prescription drugs to treat people with relapsing-remitting MS. Brands of beta-interferon available in New Zealand include Avonex and Betaferon.

Copaxone
Copaxone is the brand name given to the prescription drug glatiramer acetate, also known as copolymer-1. It is a combination of four amino acids that are thought suppress immune reactions at the site of MS lesions. Copaxone is licensed in New Zealand for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Treatment requires a daily injection.

Central Nervous System (CNS)
The central nervous system is the collective name for the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is made up of millions of nerve cells that are involved in sending messages around the body. These nerve cells are made up of cell bodies that receive and generate the messages, and axons that pass the messages onto other cells.

Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear liquid that occupies the spaces around and inside the brain as well as in the central canal of the spinal cord. CSF can be tested for the presence of substances that indicate inflammation within the central nervous system and may contribute to a diagnosis of MS. It is usually obtained by a procedure called a lumbar puncture, where a sample of CSF is taken from the lower back.

Clinical trial
A clinical trial is the comparison test of a treatment (such as a new medication) with other treatment conditions, such as a placebo (a substance that has no active medical effect, like a sugar pill) or other standard treatments. The optimum clinical trial is one that is randomised and blind or double-blind. A randomised clinical trial is where the participants are randomly allocated to the different treatment conditions. Blind and double-blind clinical trials are when the participants or researchers, or both, are not aware of the treatment group each participant is allocated to. Clinical trials of new medications are generally very large and occur over a number of years. They are considered to produce the most accurate scientific evidence to support the safety and effectiveness of a medical treatment.

Depression
Depression generally refers to a state of intense sadness or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. An episode of clinical depression is where symptoms of have continued for more than two weeks, including a persistent low mood, loss of interest in usual activities and/or a diminished ability to experience pleasure. Other symptoms can include weight loss or gain, changes in sleeping, restlessness or irritability, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, thoughts of death or suicide, and decreased energy levels. Depression is a common symptom of MS and can be effectively treated.

Diagnostic criteria
A neurologist will examine an individual and ask about their medical history to see if their symptoms are likely to be caused by MS or another condition. To determine this, the neurologist must look for the presence of a list of signs and symptoms that are recognised as occurring in people with MS. This list is known as the diagnostic criteria for MS. These criteria also provide a guideline as to what types of tests may be helpful in reaching a diagnosis.

Emotional lability
Emotional lability refers to an exaggeration of emotional responses, such as laughing or crying, that is uncontrollable and beyond what the person actually feels. For example, a person may have normal feelings of happiness or sadness, but their laughing or crying in response to their feelings is louder or longer and more difficult to control. Emotional lability can be caused by damage to the central nervous system in diseases such as MS. It is a symptom that can be treated effectively.

Evoked potentials
Evoked potential refers to the measurement of central nervous system responses that are recorded following the presentation of some kind of sensory stimulus. For example, while looking at a presentation on a computer screen, listening to sounds through earphones, or by mild electrical stimulation of nerves in the limbs. The responses are measured directly by placing sensors on the outside of the body, such as the scalp. Any delays in responding to the event may indicate that there is damage to nerves that send information to and from the brain. This type of test may be used in the diagnosis of MS.

Glatiramer acetate
Glatiramer acetate, also known as copolymer-1 and marketed under the brand name Copaxone, is a combination of four amino acids that are thought suppress immune reactions at the site of MS lesions. Glatiramer acetate is licensed in New Zealand for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Treatment requires a daily injection.

Lesion
In MS, lesions (or plaques) are patches in the central nervous system where inflammation has resulted in the loss of myelin. Some lesions will spontaneously repair themselves and disappear. Others become permanent areas of visible scarring.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used in medical imaging to examine the structure of the body. It is especially useful at looking at the central nervous system because it can give a clear, detailed image of this type of tissue. The MRI scanner works by creating a powerful magnetic field so that a specially designed imaging machine can record images from inside the body. These images are examined by a neurologist for areas of damage that could be caused by MS.

Myelin
Myelin is made by cells in the central nervous system called oligodendrocytes. These cells wrap themselves around nerve axons very many times to form a protective myelin sheath. The myelin increases the speed at which nerve signals travel along nerve axons. In MS, myelin is vulnerable to attack from the immune system.

Primary progressive MS
Also known as chronic progressive, this type of MS disease is the least common. It is characterised by having symptoms that steadily progress over time from the onset of disease, without periods of remission. In some people intermittent exacerbations of symptoms can also experienced.

Relapse
A relapse or exacerbation generally refers to a period when people experience a recurrence of symptoms that they have had during a previous MS attack. Relapses can come on quite quickly, typically last for a few weeks, and vary from mild to severe. They may be followed by a period of remission, where the symptoms improve either completely or partially.

Relapsing-remitting MS
The most common form of MS disease follows a pattern that known as relapsing-remitting. This is where attacks or relapses of symptoms, which typically last from several days to several weeks, are followed by a period of remission where the symptoms improve either partially or completely. Remission can continue for months or years before another relapse of symptoms occurs.

Remission
Remission is the time following a period of symptoms (an MS attack or relapse) when the symptoms have partially or completely resolved.

Scientific evidence
Scientific evidence is the result of objective testing of a theory or hypothesis in a way that can be reproduced by others, such as in an experiment or controlled trial.

Secondary progressive MS
The pattern of disease that is known as secondary progressive MS is characterised by having symptoms that MS that initially follow a relapsing-remitting course, where attacks are followed by periods of complete or partial recovery. After time however, the pattern changes to one where symptoms progressively worsen and there are no periods of remission.

Spasticity
Spasticity is when the level of tension in the muscles of the body increases uncontrollably. This is a common symptom of MS that generally affects the legs and torso more than arms, and can also cause spasms in some muscles. Spasticity can be treated with medication and is also helped by physiotherapy, exercise, massage and acupuncture.