Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis, Research Paper Example

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that impacts the motor system and presents in each patient in a progressive manner (Kiernan et.al, 2011). ALS is typically characterized by motor neuron changes in the limbs, difficulty speaking and swallowing, muscle wasting, and physical limb modifications during disease progression (Kiernan et.al, 2011). Patients may often experience weight loss, gagging, difficulty in making basic speech patterns, dysphagia, and in combination with fronto-temporal dementia in some cases (Kiernan et.al, 2011). Common differential diagnoses of ALS include spinal muscular atrophy, poliomyelitis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy, radiculoplexopathy, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis, among a number of other diseases (Kiernan et.al, 2011). The disease is evaluated with the use of nerve conduction studies in order to determine if this is the true diagnosis, particularly since the disease is similar to other conditions and must be properly supported by available treatments (Kiernan et.al, 2011).

Typically, more males are likely to be diagnosed with ALS than females, and persons throughout the world have the disease (Kiernan et.al, 2011). Female patients face a risk of one case per 400 women and males face a risk of one case per 350 men; furthermore, the onset of the disease is widespread, from 47-52 years for the familial variety of the disease and 58-63 years for patients with a more sporadic form of the disease (Kiernan et.al, 2011). In Europe, persons of Spanish origin face a higher level of risk than those of mixed origin, while persons in North America who are of Hispanic descent also face a higher level of risk (Kiernan et.al, 2011). Therefore, it is important to demonstrate the significance of the disease to these populations and in how treatments are conducted.

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often experience what is known as an “acute inflammatory demyelinating event in the CNS” which lasts approximately 24 hours (Polman et.al, 2011). Typically, these events are not characterized by any type of fever or infection; therefore, further evaluation must be considered in the form of a comprehensive neurological examination in order to determine a definitive diagnosis (Polman et.al, 2011). Furthermore, paroxysmal symptoms are also evident and may occur frequently within a 24-hour period, and lesions may be evident with an MRI evaluation of the brain and the neurological system (Polman et.al, 2011). The disease is characterized by lesions that are evident in different locations within the CNS, such as the spinal cord, as well as the periventricular and infratentorial areas (Polman et.al, 2011). It is also evident that some patients may present with cerebrospinal fluid that is positive for elevated immunoglobulin or oligoclonal bands upon examination (Polman et.al, 2011). Common differential diagnoses for this condition include neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and related spectrum disorders, myelopathy, and optic neuritis (Polman et.al, 2011). It is important to evaluate the disease very closely in order to prevent misdiagnosis and to be mindful of the challenges of proper treatment of the condition.

Typically, MS is identified in patients across several age groups, including children under the age of 11; furthermore, the disease is more common Latin American and Asian populations than in other groups, with a different type of presentation than many patients who are Caucasian (Polman et.al, 2011). There must be a greater emphasis on understanding the nature of MS across these population groups in order to make the appropriate diagnosis and to achieve the desired outcomes for treatment that will satisfy the desired outcomes (Polman et.al, 2011). Patients with ALS and MS face difficult challenges as a result of these diseases and require significant attention and focus on achieving the appropriate diagnosis in order to properly distinguish between these and other diseases of similarity in order to properly treat patients in a timely manner.

References

Kiernan, M. C., Vucic, S., Cheah, B. C., Turner, M. R., Eisen, A., Hardiman, O., … & Zoing, M. (2011). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.The Lancet,377(9769), 942-955.

Polman, C. H., Reingold, S. C., Banwell, B., Clanet, M., Cohen, J. A., Filippi, M., … & Wolinsky, J. S. (2011). Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria. Annals of neurology, 69(2), 292-302.