This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

oo

Hi Lyon,

I think that the word you're looking for is anaphylaxis.

NHE

Bob,

I hear what you are saying and can see the fine line between "immune" and "auto-immune".

I'm thinking that when the researchers refer to MS as an "auto-immune" disease they are saying that the main cause has something to do with a person's immune system "going after" its host...namely you. In other words, the disease somehow is causing a malfunction of the immune system.

I believe the immune system in a MS patient is operating just fine and it is reacting to inflammation that some process is causing in the myelin. That's what the immune system is supposed to do....go after problem areas in your body. Unfortunately in the case of MS, it makes things worse. And the docs have been playing with drugs for years to try and reduce this secondary problem of the immune system going after the inflammation.

Of course this is just speculation on my part but until anyone can prove otherwise, I'll continue to hold on to my belief.

Take care.

Harry

oo

oo

Here's a description of anaphylaxis from the Mayo Clinic. The description by the Mayo Clinic is inconsistent with MS in my mind and is thus different from MS.

NHE

Hi Bob,



I don't think that the immune system is operating inappropriately in a MS patient. We know that "something" is causing inflammation around an area of myelin. This area is sending a message to the immune system and asking for help. The immune system responds and sends help but whatever is causing the inflammation and the immune system's reaction appears to make things worse.

In the case of the young 17 year old lady who died from a very serious exacerbation, the mechanism that caused the damage did it so quickly and devastatingly enough that the immune system never had time to react. According to Drs. Prineas and Barrett, the immune system wasn't involved so the very big question remains...what on earth caused the myelin to destruct so quickly?!

The docs can use all the fancy immune system altering drugs they want and so far they have used many. Yet, the MS still progresses in patients despite these drugs. In fact, we know that patients who use the CRABs can end up getting much sicker, very quickly. So why? There has to be another reason as to what is causing this myelin destruction.

You can also look at those patients who are into the SPMS phase of the disease. Supposedly the inflammation period has ended but neuron destruction continues to take place. So now we have a different mechanism of degeneration happening. What is causing this?

No wonder they call MS a very perplexing and frustrating disease!

Harry

oo

oo

Lyon,

I'll be the trend setter then. Theres nothing wrong with leading the pack !

Brock

Yikes... thats not going to work.. I will have to size that down.. hmmm

Ok, now its 80x80 pixels...

Just messing around below.. don't mind it... sorry for cluttering this post!!

Photobucket is pretty cool..

oo

Anaphylaxis is indeed a life threatening alergic reaction. The Mayo Clinic's description did not go overboard.

NHE