Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, cryogenically preserved sera (serum), matched K3-EDTA plasma, and PBMC samples from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
The sera (serum), PBMC and K3-EDTA plasma specimens are processed from multiple sclerosis (MS) patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
MS, happens when your immune system attacks myelin, the sheath around your nerve cells. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged and cause communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
Symptoms can range from muscle weakness to vision loss. They tend to worsen during flares and improve during times of remission.
It is not possible to predict how multiple sclerosis (MS) will progress in any individual.
Some patients have mild symptoms, such as blurred vision and numbness, and tingling in the limbs. In severe cases, a patient may experience paralysis, vision loss, and mobility problems. However, this is not common.
According to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 250,000–350,000 patients in the United States are living with MS.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates the number could be closer to 1 million. New treatments are proving effective at slowing the disease.
Scientists do not know exactly what causes MS, but they believe it is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). When a person has an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks healthy tissue, just as it might attack a virus or bacteria.
There’s no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Onset Age
The first symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) often start between ages 20 and 40. Most patients with MS have attacks, also called relapses, when the condition gets noticeably worse.
They’re usually followed by times of recovery when symptoms improve. For other patients, the disease continues to get worse over time.
In recent years, scientists have found many new treatments that can often help prevent relapses and slow the disease’s effects.
Types of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Following are four types of multiple sclerosis (MS):
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS): This is a single, first episode, with symptoms lasting at least 24 hours. If another episode occurs at a later date, a doctor might diagnose relapse-remitting MS.
- Relapse-remitting MS (RRMS): This is the most common form. Around 85% of patients with MS are initially diagnosed with RRMS. RRMS involves episodes of new or increasing symptoms, followed by periods of remission, during which symptoms go away partially or totally.
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS): Symptoms worsen progressively, without early relapses or remissions. Some patients may experience times of stability and periods when symptoms worsen and then get better. Around 15% of patients with MS have PPMS.
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): At first, MS patients will experience episodes of relapse and remission, but then the disease will start to progress steadily.
The effects are often different for everyone who has the disease. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t need treatment. Others will have trouble getting around and doing daily tasks.
Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) vary widely between patients and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage in the central nevous system.
Some patients with severe multiple sclerosis (MS) may lose the ability to walk independently or ambulate at all. Other individuals may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms depending on the type of MS they have.
Following are re some of the most common symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS):
Fatigue
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) around 80 percent of people with MS report having fatigue. Fatigue that occurs with MS can make it harder for the patient to go about your everyday tasks.
Difficulty Walking
Difficulty walking can occur with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to the following:
- Difficulty balancing
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness in the legs or feet
- Muscle spasticity
- Difficulty with vision
Difficulty walking can also lead to injuries if the patient fall.
Vision Problems
Vision problems are often some of the first symptoms for many people with MS. Vision problems may affect one or both eyes. These issues may come and go, or get worse over time. They can also resolve entirely.
Some common vision problems associated with MS include:
- Blindness
- Diplopia or double vision
- Optic neuritis, which can cause pain or blurry vision in one eye
- Nystagmus, or involuntary movement of the eyes
Speech Issues
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes lesions in the brain that can affect speech. These speech issues, also known as dysarthria, can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of dysarthria can include the following:
- Changes in volume of speech
- Slurred speech
- “Scanning” speech, where there are long pauses between words or syllables
Other Symptoms
Other fairly common symptoms of MS include:
- Acute or chronic pain
- Cognitive issues involving concentration, memory, and word-finding
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing
- Sleep issues
- Problems with bladder control.
- Tremors
Less common symptoms of MS include the following:
- Headaches
- Hearing loss
- Itching
- respiratory or breathing problems
- seizures
- speech disorders
- swallowing problems
In the later stages, MS patients may experience changes in perception and thinking, as well as sensitivity to heat.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects individuals differently. For some, it starts with a subtle sensation, and their symptoms do not progress for months or years. Sometimes, symptoms worsen rapidly, within weeks or months.
A few patients will only have mild symptoms, and others will experience significant changes that lead to disability. However, most MS patients will experience times when symptoms worsen and then get better.
Causes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Researcher don’t know exactly what causes multiple sclerosis (MS), but there are many things that seem to make the disease more likely. Individuals with certain genes may have higher chances of getting it. Smoking also may raise the risk.
Some individuals may get multiple sclerosis (MS) after they’ve had a viral infection, like the Epstein-Barr virus or the human herpes virus 6, that makes their immune system stop working normally.
Research has shown that maintaining enough vitamin D in the body may lower the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies have shown that individuals who get more exposure to sunlight and vitamin D in their diets are less likely to have MS.
In multiple sclerosis (MS), the protective layer of myelin around some of the nerve fibers of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord become damaged.
It’s thought that the damage is the result of an immune system attack. Researchers think there could be an environmental trigger, such as a virus or toxin, that sets off the immune system attack.
As your immune system attacks myelin, it causes demyelination. This can go into remission as new layers of myelin form, but chronic inflammation can lead to scar tissue, which can result in lasting neurological impairment.
MS isn’t hereditary, but having a parent or a sibling with MS raises your risk slightly. Scientists have identified some genes that seem to increase susceptibility to developing MS, according to a review of studies published in 2011.
Risk Factors of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) risk factors include the following:
- Age: Most MS patients receive a diagnosis between the ages of 20 and 40 years.
- Sex: Most forms of MS are twice as likely to affect women than men.
- Genetic factors: Susceptibility may pass down in the genes, but scientists believe an environmental trigger is also necessary for MS to develop, even in people with specific genetic features.
- Smoking: Individuals who smoke are more likely to develop MS. They also tend to have more lesions and brain shrinkage than non-smokers.
- Infections: Exposure to viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or mononucleosis, may increase a person’s risk of developing MS.
- Vitamin D deficiency: MS is more common among people who have less exposure to bright sunlight, which is necessary for the body to create vitamin D.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: The body uses vitamin B when it produces myelin. A lack of this vitamin may increase the risk of neurological diseases such as MS.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Affects Women Twice as Men
Multiple sclerosis is a condition that affects the nervous system. It changes the way messages travel between the brain and different parts of the body, and it can lead to various symptoms.
MS affects women around twice as often as men. Women with MS can experience specific symptoms that do not affect men.
Women can experience many of the same symptoms as men, but they can also experience some specific issues due to the impact of female sex hormones.
A diagnosis of MS is most likely to occur between the ages of 20–40 years. The condition can have an impact on menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, and menopause, due to the influence of hormonal changes.
Life Expectancy of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients
It is almsot impossible to predict how multiple sclerosis (MS) will progress in any patient. Life expectancy in those with MS is increasing, according to NMSS.
Around 10 to 15 percent of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have only rare attacks and minimal disability 10 years after diagnosis, according to NMSS. It’s generally presumed they’re not on treatment or injectable medications. This is sometimes called benign multiple sclerosis (MS).
MS Type
Progressive MS generally advances faster than RRMS. People with RRMS can be in remission for many years. A lack of disability after 5 years is usually a good indicator for the future.
Sex
The disease tends to be more severe and debilitating in men, according to a 2018 review of studies.
The Bottom Line
The quality of life with patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) will depend on the symptoms and how well the patient responds to the treatment. But even though this unpredictable disease can change course without warning, it’s rarely fatal.
Most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) don’t become severely disabled, and usually continue to lead full lives.
Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
A doctor will carry out a physical and neurological examination, ask about symptoms, and consider the MS patient’s medical history.
No single test can confirm a diagnosis of MS, so a doctor will use several strategies when deciding whether a patient meets the criteria for a diagnosis. They will also talk with you about your clinical history and order a series of other tests to determine if you have MS.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnostic tests include the following:
- Blood tests: Doctors order blood tests to help eliminate the possibility of other conditions that have similar symptoms.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan: Using a contrast dye with the MRI allows the doctor to detect active and inactive lesions throughout the brain and spinal cord.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): In this test, a picture is taken of the nerve layers in the back of the eye to check for thinning around the optic nerve.
- Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture): Your doctor may order a spinal tap to check for abnormalities in the patients spinal fluid. This test can help rule out infectious diseases. It can also be used to look for oligoclonal bands (OCBs), which can be used to diagnose MS.
- Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) test. This test requires the stimulation of nerve pathways to analyze electrical activity in your brain. In the past, brain stem auditory-evoked and sensory-evoked potential tests were also used to diagnose MS.
An MS diagnosis requires evidence of demyelination occurring at different times in more than one area of your brain, spinal cord, or optic nerves. Demyelination is a process that prevents nerves from efficiently sending signals.
A diagnosis also requires ruling out other conditions that have similar symptoms. Lyme disease, lupus, and Sjögren’s syndrome are just a few examples.
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
There is no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), but treatment is available that can slow the progression of the disease, reduce the number and severity of relapses, and relieve symptoms.
Some patients also use complementary and alternative therapies, but research does not always confirm the usefulness of these.
Treatment options include the following:
Medications to Slow Progression of the Disease
Several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating the relapsing forms of MS. These work by changing how the immune system functions.
A doctor may give some of these by mouth, by injection, or as an infusion. How often the person needs to take them and whether they can do this at home will depend on the drug.
The following DMTs currently have FDA approval:
Injectable Medications
- Avonex (Interferon beta- 1a)
- Betaseron (interferon beta-1b)
- Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)
- Extavia (interferon beta-1b)
- Glatiramer Acetate Injection (glatiramer acetate — generic equivalent of Copaxone 20 mg and 40 mg doses)
- Glatopa (glatiramer acetate — generic equivalent of Copaxone 20mg and 40mg doses)
- Kesimpta (ofatumumab)
- Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)
- Rebif (interferon beta-1a)
Oral Medications
- Aubagio (teriflunomide)
- Bafiertam (monomethyl fumarate)
- Dimethyl Fumarate (dimethyl fumarate — generic equivalent of Tecfidera)
- Gilenya (fingolimod)
- Mavenclad (cadribine)
- Mayzent (siponimod)
- Ponvory (ponesimod)
- Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate)
- Vumerity (diroximel fumarate)
- Zeposia (ozanimod)
Infused Medications
- Lemtrada (alemtuzumab)
- Novantrone (mitoxantrone)
- Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)
- Tysabri (natalizumab)
Current guidelines recommend a patient begin using these drugs when in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), as there is a good chance that they can slow the progression of MS, especially if the patient takes them when symptoms are not yet severe.
Relieving Symptoms During a Flare-up
Other drugs are useful when a person experiences a worsening of symptoms during a flare. They will not need these drugs all the time.
These medications include corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. They can treat an acute flare-up of symptoms in certain types of MS. Examples include Solu-Medrol (methylprednisolone) and Deltasone (prednisone). Steroids can have adverse effects if a person uses them too often, and they are not likely to provide any long-term benefit.
Other medications and approaches can treat specific symptoms. Those symptoms include:
- Behavioral changes: If a person has vision problems, a doctor may recommend they rest their eyes from time to time or limit screen time. A person with MS may need to learn to rest when fatigue sets in and to pace themselves so they can complete activities.
- Problems with mobility and balance: Physical therapy and walking devices, such as a cane, may help. The drug dalfampridine (Ampyra) may also prove useful.
- Tremor: A person may use assistive devices or attach weights to their limbs to reduce shaking. Medications may also help with tremors.
- Fatigue: Getting enough rest and avoiding heat can help. Physical and occupational therapy can help teach people more comfortable ways to do things. Assistive devices, such as a mobility scooter, can help conserve energy. Medication or counseling may help boost energy by improving sleep.
- Pain: Pain relief medication, such as gabapentin, may help with body pain. Doctors may also prescribe muscle relaxants to reduce painful spasms.
- Bladder and bowel problems: Some medications and dietary changes can help resolve these issues.
- Depression: A doctor may prescribe a selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or other antidepressant drugs.
- Cognitive changes: Donepezil, a drug for Alzheimer’s, may help some people.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
The following may help with different aspects of MS:
- A healthful diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and fiber
- Acupuncture for pain and gait
- Exercise to maintain strength and flexibility, reduce stiffness, and boost mood
- Heat and massage treatment for pain
- Quitting or avoiding smoking
- Stress management to boost mood
Medical Cannabis
Studies have suggested that cannabis may help relieve pain, muscle stiffness, and insomnia. However, there is not enough evidence to confirm this.
Patients considering this approach should note that there is a difference between using street cannabis and medical cannabis. Also, not all forms of cannabis are legal in all states.
A patient should ask their doctor for advice before using cannabis, as some forms can have adverse effects. Smoking cannabis is unlikely to be beneficial, and it may make symptoms worse.
Plasma Exchange
Plasma exchange involves withdrawing blood from a person, removing the plasma, replacing it with new plasma, and transfusing it back into the person.
This process removes the antibodies in the blood that are attacking parts of the person’s body, but whether it can help people with MS is unclear. Studies have produced mixed results.
Plasma exchange is usually only suitable for severe MS attacks.
Stem Cell Therapy
Scientists are looking into the use of stem cell therapy to regenerate various body cells and restore function to people who have lost it due to a health condition.
Researchers hope that one day, stem cell therapy techniques may be able to reverse the damage done by MS and restore functionality in the nervous system.
Prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is challenging to live with but is rarely fatal. Some severe complications such as bladder infections, chest infections, and difficulty swallowing could lead to death.
A multiple sclerosis prognosis does not always result in severe paralysis. Two-thirds of people with MS are able to walk. However, many of them will require assistance such as a cane, wheelchair, crutches, or a scooter.
The average life expectancy for a person with MS is 5 to 10 years lower than the average person.
Outlook of of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is a lifelong condition. You’ll face unique challenges that can change over time.
You should focus on communicating your concerns with your doctor, learning all you can about MS, and discovering what makes you feel your best.
Many people with MS even choose to share their challenges and coping strategies through in-person or online support groups.
Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.
Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.
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Patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.
Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.
Including fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.
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Types of Biospecimens
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