This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Some day some bastard researcher is going to publish some positive news on MS. We seem to be constantly drip fed ever worsening news e.g. MS rates going through the roof for Canadian women, deaths on trials etc etc


Multiple Sclerosis Linked to Abnormal Liver Test Results 01 November 2006

Multiple sclerosis has been linked to abnormal liver test results according to research findings announced by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. The study was published in the October 10 edition of Neurology.
According to Dr. Helen Tremlett, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia and lead researcher on the study, the results could mean that people with MS need to take extra care when using medications that might affect their liver and be alert to any possible symptoms of liver disease.

"I would recommend people with MS have their liver tested as a routine part of their care when being treated with drugs known to affect the liver," Dr. Tremlett says. "In addition, people need to inform their doctor immediately if there is any presentation of liver disease symptoms such as jaundice (yellow skin or yellowing of the whites of the eye), itchy skin and unexpected fatigue."

The liver is the organ responsible for plasma synthesis, drug detoxification and digestion. Diseases of the liver include hepatitis and cirrhosis.

To make the link, the researchers used data from the Sylvia Lawry Centre for MS Research in Germany, the largest database of MS clinical trial information in the world. In all, medical information from 813 people with MS enrolled in various clinical trials from North America, Australia and Europe was analysed. The study was funded by the MS Society of Canada.

Over a two-year period, there was an over three-fold increased risk of a person with MS having an elevated liver test result compared to expectations. An elevated test result indicates that liver enzymes have leaked out of their cells. This leakage into the blood stream may be an indicator of liver cell damage.

Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen or herbal remedies may cause elevated levels of liver enzymes in the blood.

"People with MS or any chronic disease need to carefully monitor their medications," notes Dr. William J. McIlroy, national medical advisor for the MS Society of Canada. "Both the patient's doctor and their pharmacist should be fully aware all the therapies being taken to ensure symptoms and test results are not misinterpreted."

An earlier study also funded by the MS Society of Canada and led by Dr. Tremlett showed that certain prescribed MS drugs - commonly described as "beta interferons" - can increase the risk of liver disturbances. However, the current study examined those who were not on beta interferon treatment.

"Although beta interferons do further increase the risk of an elevated test, we know now that abnormal liver tests can result independent of this treatment," says Dr. Tremlett. "The next step is to determine why this is and hopefully add another piece to the complex puzzle that is MS."

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord. The disease attacks the protective myelin covering of the central nervous system, causing inflammation and often destroying the myelin in patches. The severity of MS and its progression varies from person-to-person. Symptoms of MS include blurred vision, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, problems with coordination and painful stiffness of muscles among many others.

It is estimated that 55,000 - 75,000 Canadians have MS. A recent survey by Leger Marketing showed that half of Canadians know someone with MS. The MS Society of Canada is the highest per capita funder of MS research in the world. In 2006, the MS Society allocated $4.5 million in new research funding.

Source: CNN Matthews

oh i like the title of THAT one. "multiple sclerosis" has been linked to liver problems. um i think that should say "pharmaceuticals used to treat ms" have been linked to liver probs.

how many ppl here on interferon didn't have to get liver monitoring tests? am i unusual? i was told to get baseline tests (came back normal, but who knows what THAT means) before starting rebif, and i would have had to have ongoing monitoring too, so i knew it was hepatotoxic. took a liver tonic supplement for a little while trying to get geared up for it, but in the end i never started taking rebif.

i am taking some diflucan right now and i know it's bad for my liver so i don't have any alcohol and try to drink plenty of water (although it's a good day when i can get through a litre of plain water).

You know what? I had elevated liver enzymes when I was admitted to the hospital with my first symptom of Nystagmus. They did an ultra sound on my liver and said I had what was called "Fatty Liver". They couldn't really explain why a 25 year old male that didn't drink had that. I thought that was interesting. Something to note: I consumed mostly Diet Pepsi as my source of hydration. Do you think there was some sort of toxicty from the aspartame and other chemicals in Diet Pepsi? I wonder what my liver looks like now since I stopped drinking diet soda? Hmmmmmm.

Viper,

Don't even go there (diet fizzy drinks). Like you I don't drink (alcohol). I have a 77 year old uncle who is in the pub every day, but still manages the six flights of stairs to his flat (apartment). God is having a laugh!

The liver research really wound me up. The nurse who showed me how to inject Rebif asked me how I felt about getting MS - "pissed off" was my reply. She said lots of MS pateints suffer from depression the reasons - (i) because of how the disease devastates their lives (ii) because the disease destroys a bit of the brain which then makes you susceptible to depression (iii) the medication e.g. Rebif could make you depressed.

After telling me all this I really did feel depressed!

A manager of the English football (team) in the late 90s was sacked because he said that disabled people were paying the price for sins in a former life. To be given this disease I must have strangled 50 kids in a former life!

Ian

Pissed off with crap research on MS and the liver

I had high liver enzymes(what ever that means) when i went off beta interferon and i try to drink alot so i'm hoping for liver disease or just anything that will kill me i'm to chicken to do it myself for now anyway. This ms shit is to brutal for me and it just keeps on comming...

high liver enzymes means that the enzymes produced in your liver, which are generally found at lower levels in the serum, start to leak out coz of damage, and the levels in the serum go up. my tests were for ALT ALP AST and they threw in a CBC too (although that was a bit of a circus act getting the CBC out of the lab - they kept losing it!)

you can read a bit about the liver tests at
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/alt/test.html

hey viper what else did you do to combat the fatty liver problem?

robbie stop drinking right now. or i will send someone over there to administer punishment wherever you can feel it. although you would probably like that, and they would have to get past chewbacca...

lol jimmy, i just want out of this body, it doesn't work any more...

oh you're in for it now

Robbie don't be so hard on yourself. Instead of trying to help MS therapy's take out your liver why not try cleansing it. That doesn't mean you can't have a drink it just means make the liver work for you not against you. Have you tried CoQ10 yet or turmeric or cranberry juice even on a regular schedule. It's worth trying. Are your enzymes still elevated as it doesn't take much to get them back in shape. The liver does heal as long as you are willing to put in the effort.
Next are you on your own and if so do you have any support near by???? Going anything alone is scary you need to build your team. Staying in the house hating to go out in the world won't help either. Positive point is you have lots of friends online. Where is your nearest support group as here someone will pick you up if you can't get to the meetings.Do you have someone like that there. Just call the MS Society they will hook you up. When you get there remember to ask for help but also remember someone else will need your help. We are all in this together.

_________________
John was diagnosed Jan 2005. On lipitor 20mg .On Copaxone since July 4,2005. Vitamin D3 2000iu-4000iu (depending on sunshine months)June 10 2005(RX::Dr. O'Connor) Omega 3 as well Turmeric since April 2005. Q10 60mg. 1500mg liquid Glucosamine Nov 2005.

Ian,
Even though you hate the research (you were pretty clear about that ) it does in some small way point a finger to a POSSIBLE infectious cause at work in MS, as many people with chronic infections (CPn, Lyme, Bartonella...etc) have raised liver enzymes because their livers are actually infected.

Lexy

Melody, isn't milk thistle also helpful for a healthy liver?

yes it is, this is the formula i took:

http://www.questvitamins.com/product.asp?id=48&cat_name=Herbs

if u scroll to the bottom you can see the other things besides milk thistle that were in it

I've been reading the posts this am and altho this is probably not the most appropriate place to post, Ians latest grizzle about more depressing research made me think that perhaps we should start a forum called "I've got a little list" - I'm taking the title from a song from Gilbert & Sullivans Mikado when the Lord High Executioner decides who's for the chop....

"As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list, I've got a little list,
Of society's offenders who may be well underground,
And who never will be missed- who never would be missed..."

Ian perhaps you can start us off with..."There's all ms researchers who annoy us more each day, ms nurses who make crass comments and don't deserve their pay....."
Jimmy & Jaded could add...." a certain bleating boyfriend who may soon become my ex, those who try to match make but get confused between each sex..."

The list may be quite long!
Muu

Now just a sec and on that note
A drop of blood from that ole GOAT

Our MS nurse is here to stay
She's oft the one that saves the day

I will agree that that damn MOUSE
Is nothing at all like my SPOUSE

The MICE eat Cheese and John's told NAAAAY
So test a cow he can eat HAY

OOP'S I forgot the GLUTEN test
I'm going to have to take a rest

_________________
John was diagnosed Jan 2005. On lipitor 20mg .On Copaxone since July 4,2005. Vitamin D3 2000iu-4000iu (depending on sunshine months)June 10 2005(RX::Dr. O'Connor) Omega 3 as well Turmeric since April 2005. Q10 60mg. 1500mg liquid Glucosamine Nov 2005.

I've never looked at it yet as I have so many right now I'm studying. Down the road you never know.

_________________
John was diagnosed Jan 2005. On lipitor 20mg .On Copaxone since July 4,2005. Vitamin D3 2000iu-4000iu (depending on sunshine months)June 10 2005(RX::Dr. O'Connor) Omega 3 as well Turmeric since April 2005. Q10 60mg. 1500mg liquid Glucosamine Nov 2005.