Cameo

The Soccer Mom by Bolognese, Coronel, Intorre and Stephens

Part IV—The Diagnosis

Dr. Thrush informed Phyllis that she was probably suffering from the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis (MS), in which relapses of symptoms are separated by periods of remission. MS is a disorder in which the myelination of axons is degraded due to unknown factors. The most commonly accepted explanation is that MS is an autoimmune disorder in which myelin in the central nervous system is attacked by the body’s own immune system. There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Thrush ordered physical therapy, weekly injections of interferon beta, and corticosteroids. In addition, she suggested that Phyllis and Steven begin marriage counseling to help them deal with the changes in their lifestyle caused by this disorder.

Questions

  1. During remission, axons affected by the disorder regain their function. If voltage-gated sodium channels are concentrated in certain regions of the myelinated axon prior to the disease, what do you think happens to these sodium channels after multiple sclerosis has had its effect?
  2. How would these three treatments (physical therapy, weekly injections of interferon beta, and corticosteroids) help to control Phyllis’s symptoms?

Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/soccer_mom/soccer_mom4.asp

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