Friday, December 28, 2012

Eye Scan Could Predict Progression of Multiple Sclerosis | Health Aim

An easy and quick eye test could help give an effective way to measure how quickly multiple sclerosis will progress in a person who has the disease. Scans were performed on 164 patients with MS that measured the thickness in the back part of the eye?s lining.

John Hopkins University researchers found that patients with a retina that was thinning had both more active and earlier forms of MS. The scan is called the Optical Coherence Tomography or OCT. It takes only a few minutes to perform per eye.

Multiple Sclerosis affects the nerves in the spinal cord and brain causing problems with the patient?s vision, balance and muscle movement. In worst cases, it also causes paralysis.

Close to 8 out of every 10 people suffering from MS, have the type referred to as relapsing remitting. This type is where people will go through periods where all symptoms disappear or are mild followed by severe flare-ups. After approximately 10 years, patients start to develop what is referred to as secondary progressive disease where the symptoms are worse and time of remission is almost non-existent.

Monitoring MS is difficult for medical experts since it takes an unpredictable course. However, researchers believe the OCT could provide help in the monitoring of the disease.

The eyes of 164 MS patients were measured every half year for 24 months. Of the 164 fifty-nine did not show any symptoms at the start of the exams. MRI scans were also performed on their brains.

Researchers found that those with MS relapses had thinning of the lining that was 42% quicker than those who did not have relapses.

Source: http://www.healthaim.com/eye-scan-could-predict-progression-of-multiple-sclerosis/

leah remini desean jackson kyle orton kyle orton ncaa tournament schedule black and tan dwight howard trade

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.