The 30th of May is marked as World Multiple Sclerosis Day. It brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise awareness and campaign with everyone affected by MS.
As a part of the world health community, Norameda wants to share the insights of our dear friend, the Founder of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre at Klaipėda’s University Hospital Assoc. Prof. Lina Malcienė.
In spring, many of us feel exhausted and eager to curl up in bed: we feel tired, weary and sick. Experts often attribute spring tiredness to weakened immunity during the winter and a lack of vitamins and sunshine during the cold season.
But sometimes fatigue is not “just” fatigue.
“If you feel not only severe fatigue but also numbness from time to time, stumble when climbing stairs, experience vision impairment, dizziness, or even urinary problems – I would recommend that you do not ignore these symptoms and contact your family doctor immediately,” says Doctor of Neurology, Assoc. Prof. L. Malcienė.
A young people’s disease
Contrary to what we think, multiple sclerosis is a disease of young people: in most cases, MS is diagnosed in people aged 20-40. Rarely, however, MS is also found in children, more often in adolescents.
“Early diagnosis is essential. Still, because the symptoms are not specific, young people ignore them and write them down as overwork. Family doctors also do not always recognise the MS and either prescribe immune-boosting supplements or send them to other specialists: an ophthalmologist, gastroenterologist, or urologist,” says L. Malcienė.
In multiple sclerosis, some symptoms may last briefly or disappear entirely, while others may last longer or even for life. The neurological symptoms even might fade after some time: the patient feels well but may relapse or develop new symptoms.
Women have a higher incidence but a milder form
The head of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre stresses the importance of detecting MS in its early stages and starting treatment in time. Although the condition is not curable and progressive, it can be stabilised. However, there is no turning back the clock if the disease is advanced.
“MS diagnosis is certainly not a deaf sentence. But, of course, it affects the quality of life. Still, we can help to manage it well. Some people live with MS for most of their lives and keep on working,” says Malcienė. “But if the disease is not diagnosed and treated in time, it progresses, leads to disability and, ultimately, death from the complications it causes.”
The course of the MS depends mainly on the characteristics of the body. As does gender. For example, women are twice as likely to have multiple sclerosis. However, they often have a milder course than men, who often have a more severe form of multiple sclerosis, and the course of the disease is usually more severe.
Breakthrough in treatment – biological therapy
According to the doctor, early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is also vital because a new drug for treating early progressive multiple sclerosis has recently been registered in Lithuania.
“This is an innovative therapy for the treatment of irreversibly disabling progressive multiple sclerosis,” says L. Malcienė.
The availability of this therapy is considered a breakthrough in the treatment of MS. Until now, the treatment of such patients has been more symptomatic. Progressive MS is a debilitating disease characterised by progressively worsening symptoms.
“This medicine was authorised in the EU almost three years ago. We participated in clinical trials with other countries, and the results are promising. Today, we can stop the progression of the disease in those patients whose symptoms have been getting worse,” says Dr L. Malcienė, stressing that it all comes down to starting the treatment as early as possible.
According to the Head of the Multiple Sclerosis Centre, global practice shows that it is crucial to ensure that the use of this therapy is constant.
“In any case, my main message is not to wait and ignore the symptoms. It is better to have a hundred cases of multiple sclerosis that are not confirmed than one case diagnosed at a late stage because nowadays, in Lithuania, we have all the latest drugs to treat this disease and prevent its progression,” says a neurologist.