Demyelinating disease of the brain -the problem is quite serious and dangerous, because the disease affects the nervous tissues, which, of course, affects the work of the whole organism. So what is a similar state? What symptoms are accompanied? Are there effective methods of treatment.
What is a demyelinating process?
Some nerve endings (in particular, axonsperipheral and central nervous system) are covered with a specific myelin sheath. This structure performs a number of important functions. In particular, myelin is responsible for the rate of transmission of electrical impulses along nerve fibers. In addition, the shell performs barrier and supporting functions, and is also responsible for nourishing the nerve endings.
Demyelinating disease of the brainis accompanied by some kind of damage to the myelin sheath, which, naturally, affects the work of nerve cells. By the way, demyelinating diseases represent a whole group of those or other lesions of the nervous system, each of which has its own characteristics and is accompanied by a unique set of symptoms.
Demyelinating brain disease: causes
Not always it is possible to find out the reasonappearance of such a process. Nevertheless, in modern medicine, it is common to identify several major risk factors. For example, quite often such a disease develops against a background of hereditary diseases, including aminoaciduria, leukodystrophy, Alexander's disease, etc.
Demielisation can have an acquired character.In some cases, damage to the myelin sheath occurs against the background of infectious inflammatory diseases, less often after the introduction of vaccines. Diseases such as diffuse and multiple sclerosis, acute transverse myelitis can also cause demyelination of nerve fibers.
On the other hand, such diseases can beare caused by some metabolic disorders. In particular, the cause is often acute deficiency of vitamin B12, central pontinous myelinosis and some other conditions.
Demyelinating brain disease: symptoms
Of course, many people are interested in exactly what changes need to be paid attention. Unfortunately, the symptoms in this case depend on the localization of lesions, the stage and the features of the course of the disease.
Naturally, there are some signs thatmay indicate that a person develops a particular demyelinating disease of the brain. As a rule, first of all the patient develops an increased fatigue and a decrease in working capacity. The main symptoms can also be attributed to this or that degree of impaired coordination, as well as changes in gait, tremor.
Кроме того, некоторые пациенты отмечают изменения sensitivity - it can either increase or decrease or even disappear completely. Symptoms include periodic sensations of burning and tingling in the extremities.
In addition, demyelinating diseasethe brain can cause and violations in the work of the pelvic organs. For example, some patients experience stool or urinary retention or, conversely, incontinence.
Naturally, such diseases affectmental state of a person. Depressive states, certain behavior disorders can develop. Often, progressive demyelination causes a decrease in the level of intelligence.
The most common diseases caused by the demyelinating process
На самом деле существует множество заболеваний, one way or another associated with the process of damage to myelin fibers. For example, Devik's disease is rather specific, which is accompanied by inflammation and demyelination of the optic nerves and certain segments of the spinal cord.
Chronic diseases includeatrophic lateral sclerosis, which is most often manifested in adulthood. The list of diseases can be replenished with such pathologies as acute encephalomyelitis, Krabbe's disease, periaxial encephalitis, as well as concentric sclerosis of Balo (more often at a young age), sclerosis Marburga and many others.
Modern diagnostic methods
In the presence of the slightest suspicion of suchthe disease should be referred to a doctor. Naturally, there are many methods of diagnosis, but a kind of "gold standard" is magnetic resonance tomography of the head. The results of MRI help the doctor to determine the localization of the demyelination process, as well as the stage of the development of the disease, the features of its course and the rate of progression.
In the future, additionalstudies, in particular, blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc. These tests provide an opportunity to find out the cause of the disease, which is extremely important for the development of an effective therapy regimen.
Is there an effective treatment?
Unfortunately, for today does not existmeans that can quickly and finally rid the patient of such a disease. Nevertheless, every year there are more and more drugs that appoint patients with a diagnosis of "demyelinating brain disease." Treatment, of course, depends on the variety and stage of development of the disease.
Drugs are considered quite effectivebeta-interferons, which quite well block further progression of the disease and the risk of developing disability. According to statistics, this course of treatment reduces the probability of occurrence of certain complications by 30%.
Depending on the features of the course of the diseasetherapy also includes the intake of muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs (usually corticosteroids), as well as cytostatics. Positively, the work of the brain is affected by nootropic drugs, amino acid complexes and drugs - neuroprotectors.
Approximately such treatment requires demyelinatingdisease of the brain. The prognosis for patients depends on the variety and form of the disease, as well as the rate of its progression and the quality of the care given to a person. And do not forget that the development of new drugs is still underway.
