Multiple Sclerosis: Immunological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects(No 3 Current Problems in Neurology S.)

Multiple sclerosis, in spite of being one of the commonest neurological diseases, is of unknown aetiology and its diagnosis is often doubtful. This volume is based on a symposium held at Charing Cross Hospital in 1986 and looks at the immunological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the disease. The authors of this book follow three main approaches. Immunological aspects and the "viral dimension" are the subject of the first ten chapters. It is here that keys may be sought for solutions. Diagnostic aspects include assessment of the role of newer techniques of imaging such as MRI and PET in the evaluation of MS. Therapeutic aspects begin with the understanding of bladder and sexual dysfunction, which calls for effective counselling, a theme which is at the centre of the final chapter which examines the quality of doctor-patient communications in multiple sclerosis. The role of hyperbaric oxygenation, the use of muscle relaxants, extended physiotherapy and nutrition are among the therapies that are discussed.

Table of Contents:
Immunological approaches to the understanding of multiple sclerosis, K.A.Brown and D.C.Dumonde; role of T cells in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis, M.A.Bach and E.Tournier-Lasserve; ganglioside-mediated suppression of encephalitogenic T-helper lymphocytes, Halina Offner and Arthur A.Vandenbark; regulation of epitope specific encephalitogenic T lymphocytes - rationale for vaccination of multiple sclerosis patients, Arthur A.Vandenbark et al; demyelinating activity in vitro of T lymphocyte-derived products in multiple sclerosis, Krzysztof Selmaj; serum demyelinating activity in multiple sclerosis, Keith Bradbury; complement and multiple sclerosis, Alastair Compston; monoclonal antibodies and therapy of multiple sclerosis, Lawrence Steinman; multiple sclerosis - the viral dimension, L.S.Lange; is multiple sclerosis caused by an oral spirochaete? - the evidence, Derek Gay and George Dick. Part 2 Diagnostic aspects: central motor conduction in multiple sclerosis - studies with electrical and magnetic brain stimulation, D.A.Ingram; central motor conduction times in multiple sclerosis using the magnetic stimulator, R.Abraham et al; electrophysiological manifestations of demyelinating optic nerve in virus-induced animal model of multiple sclerosis, Hisako Ikeda; the electroretinogram in multiple sclerosis, D.Papakostopoulos, et al; the relative diagnostic values of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and immunoglobulin estiamtions in multiple sclerosis, M.H.Morgan et al; the use and significance of oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis, E.J.Thompson; the influence of abnormal IgG ratios in the CSF on further development of the disease in single lesion multiple sclerosis, G.D.Perkin and B.R.Muller; a summary of the present contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to diagnosis and understanding of multiple sclerosis, D.H.Miller et al; studies on regional cerebral function in multiple sclerosis using position emission tomography, D.J.Brooks. Part 3 Therapeutic aspects: bladder and sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, Clare J.Fowler; some experimental observations on the actions of dantrolene sodium and baclofen, F.G.Harrison; modification of muscle properties induced by activity - possible applications for treatment, G.Vrbova; the effect of long-term physiotherapy on disability in multiple sclerosis patients, L.H.DeSouza and J.A.Worthington; the biochemical background to the integrity of the brain, M.A.Crawford and L.S.Harbige; dietary supplementation in multiple sclerosis - a review, David Bates; the effect of nutritional counselling on dietary compliance and disease course in multiple sclerosis patients over 3 years, G.E.Fitzgerald et al. Part contents.