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How does multiple sclerosis destroy myelin around nerve fibres?
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nervous system disease
Epilepsy monitoring during a neurological evaluation.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes the gradual destruction of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibres in the central nervous system.12
Pathologically, this process involves the following mechanisms:
- Immune Attack: The body’s immune system launches an attack against myelin, specifically targeting myelin basic protein and potentially other brain proteins. While the exact trigger for this response remains unknown, it is believed that certain viruses may initiate the process.1
- Cellular Involvement: The destruction is exacerbated by infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages, which contribute to the inflammatory response.1
- Plaque Formation: This immune activity results in multiple scattered areas of inflammation known as plaques within the white matter of the central nervous system.2
Genetic factors, particularly the presence of certain major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, are thought to influence an individual's susceptibility to the disease.12