Multiple Sclerosis, an illness which affects the brain and the spinal cord, is the bane of numerous people around the world. Early detection of the said illness may include weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. Other signs are muscle stiffness, inability to think well, and urinary problems.
With this said, a new research suggests the introduction of a drug, Alemtuzumab, as a means to improve some of the physical inabilities linked to the disease. Alemtuzumab is known to be a Disease Modifying Drug (DMD) which is believed to reduce the severity of relapses that individuals with Multiple Sclerosis experiences.
Although it possesses rather severe side effects, Alemtuzumab is given to a person who has not responded well to other medications since it can destroy certain types of cells in the body that can cause more damage to the nerves. Despite the risks, however, the drug has proven to be quite prolific in the MS community.
As per UPI, researchers from the American Academy of Neurology, as published in the journal Neurology, have tested Alemtuzumab in restoring the physical abilities of patients affected by Relapse-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), the most common form of the disease.
Study lead author Dr. Gavin Giovannoni, Ph.D., of Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom, has revealed that although a considerable amount of research has been done to slow down the progress of the disease, little is still known about reversing its side effects and the ability of current treatments to help in restoring the lost functions in the body.
Multiple sclerosis is a rather unpredictable disease that attacks the victim's central nervous system by interfering the flow of information between the body and the brain. Thus, Dr. Giovannoni concludes that although Alemtuzumab can cause the decline and severity of MS, a considerable amount of study must still be observed since it also poses a great risk of serious and rarely fatal autoimmune problems, as well as infusion reactions.
Experts say that while the main cause of Multiple Sclerosis is still unknown, it is believed by many scientists that the disease is elicited from various environmental factors. According to a report released by Medical News Today, as of the present time, 2.3 million people all over the world have been diagnosed with RRMS.
