Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease as the immune system of the body attacks the healthy tissues. Signs and symptoms of this disorder include numbness and weakness in the limbs in one side of the body; partial or full loss of vision and pain with movement of the eyes; prolonged double vision; tingling or pain; sensations like electric shock especially in movements of the neck; tremor; slurred speech; dizziness; fatigue; and problems with healthy functioning of the bowel and bladder. Myasthenia Gravis Myasthenia Gravis is characterized by the breakdown communication between the nerves and muscles of the body. The person suffers from weakness and rapid fatigue of body muscles. It is not possible to treat this disease but medications can help relieve the symptoms. It is more common among women younger than 40 years and men above 60 years old. The two main causes of myasthenia gravis are antibodies and the thymus gland. In this disease, the immune system produces antibodies that block muscles receptor sites for the transmission of neurons, known as acetylcholine. As these muscle receptor sites get damaged, healthy signaling from the nerves to the muscles is affected, causing immense weakness. These antibodies produced by the immune system also block the functioning of proteins called muscle specific receptor tyrosine kinase, which is responsible for building the junction between nerves and muscles. The thymus gland also facilitates the production of antibodies, which block acetylcholine, another possible cause of myasthenia gravis. It is also believed to be caused by congenital gene mutations. Symptoms and signs of myasthenia gravis are the dropping of one or both eyelids, doubled vision, altered speech, difficulty swallowing and chewing, limited facial expressions, and weakness in the neck, arms, legs, eyes, face, and throat. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that causes weakness in muscles and influences the physical function of the body. It is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a kind of motor neuron disease in which the nerve cells of the body gradually break down and die. It is caused by gene mutation; chemical imbalance due to higher levels of glutamate that is toxic to nerves cells; disorganized immune response such that the immune system attacks healthy cells; and mishandling of proteins such that abnormal proteins get accumulated, causing deterioration and death of the nerve cells in the body. Signs and symptoms of ALS are difficulty in walking and tripping; weakness in legs, feet, and ankles; weakness and clumsiness in hands; slurred speech; troubled swallowing; cramps and twitches in arms, shoulders, and tongue; and difficulty in holding the head up. Achieve Page 100