Glossary of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Terms
This glossary of related multiple sclerosis (MS) terms will help you learn the language and terminology of MS and biotechnology.
Autoimmune Disease: A disease in which a person’s immune system destroys the body’s good cells, in addition to fighting infections and viruses. There are many types of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and many more.
Amino Acids: Amino acids are chemical sub-units that are linked in specific sequences to form proteins. They are also referred to as the ‘building blocks’ of proteins.
Biotechnology: Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use. Also known as biotech.
Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and spinal cord, which control bodily and cognitive functions. Functions include muscle control, eyesight, breathing, memory, concentration, etc. The CNS is the part of the body affected by multiple sclerosis.
Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: This term is often used to describe any form of progressive multiple sclerosis. It can include Secondary Progressive MS, Primary Progressive MS, or Progressive Relapsing MS.
Clinical Trials: Clinical trials are research studies designed to evaluate a new treatment or drug. A select group of volunteers with Multiple Sclerosis are administered a drug and monitored to evaluate its effectiveness.
Demyelination: The destruction of myelin resulting from trauma or disease. Myelin is stripped away from the nerves it protects, and as a result the nerves’ ability to conduct signals is weakened or impaired completely. Multiple Sclerosis is one disease associated with demyelination.
Dirucotide: Dirucotide is a drug currently being developed for the treatment of Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Also known at MBP8298, it is a synthetic peptide that consists of 17 amino acids linked in a sequence identical to that of a portion of human myelin basic protein (MBP). (Source)
Double-blind Clinical Trial: This strict type of clinical trial eliminates any possibility of bias. Neither the participant or the researcher knows if the treatment or a placebo has been administered.
MBP8298: The former name for dirucotide (see above), used in early development.
Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple Sclerosis (also known as MS) is a disease of the central nervous system. It is characterized by the destruction of myelin in the brain and spinal cord. The damage prevents the nerves from sending signals to other parts of the body properly. Symptoms include muscular weakness, blurry vision, numbness, severe fatigue, and cognitive impairment. There are four forms of multiple sclerosis, including Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis, Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, and Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.
Myelin: A white, fatty substance that covers and protects nerve fibres in the central nervous system (CNS).
Myelin Basic Protein (MBP): A major component of myelin that is believed to play an important role in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis.
Neurological Disease: A neurological disease is a disorder or the nervous system.
Open-label Clinical Trials: With this type of clinical trial, both the researchers and the participants know they are receiving the treatment and not a placebo.
Placebo: A treatment without intrinsic therapeutic value, but administered as if it were a therapy, either in medical treatment or in clinical trials.
*Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS): Characterized by disease progression from onset punctuated by clear acute relapses that are followed by full or partial recovery to there-existing level of disability.
*Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS): Characterized by disease progression from onset, with or without occasional plateaus or temporary minor improvements.
*Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS): Characterized by clearly defined acute attacks flowwed by full or partial recovery to the pre-existing level of disability, and by a lack of disease progression in the period between attacks.
Sclerosis: The abnormal hardening or thickening of soft tissues, especially of nerves. It often occurs where myelin is damaged and scar tissue forms. Sclerosis is also called plaque or lesion.
*Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS): Occurs after an initial relapsing-remitting phase and is characterized by disease progression with or without relapses, minor remissions, and plateaus.
*(Source: Key issues in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Guest Editor: Paul O'Connor, MD, MSc, FRCPC, on behalf of The Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Working Group. From the Division of Neurology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)