A lot of our symptoms are identical with the symptoms of primary vascular dysregulation.EPMA J. 2016 Jun 15;7:13. doi: 10.1186/s13167-016-0062-6. eCollection 2016.
Multiple sclerosis and primary vascular dysregulation (Flammer syndrome).
Konieczka K1, Koch S1, Binggeli T1, Schoetzau A1, Kesselring J2.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS of still unknown aetiology. Flammer syndrome (FS) encompasses a set of symptoms and signs that are primarily but not solely related to the dysregulation of blood vessels. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether FS symptoms occur more often in MS patients than in controls.
METHODS:
Fifty-eight MS patients and 259 controls answered a questionnaire covering 15 symptoms and signs of FS.
RESULTS:
Six of the 15 symptoms and signs of FS (dizziness, low body mass index, cold hands and/or feet, tendency toward perfectionism, reduced thirst, feeling cold) were found significantly more often in MS patients than in controls. Seven additional symptoms and signs (tinnitus, headaches, increased pain sensation, long sleep-onset time, migraines, increased response to certain drugs, low blood pressure) also occurred more often in MS patients, but the difference in frequency was not statistically significant. One sign (reversible skin blotches) was found less often in MS patients, but the difference in frequency was not statistically significant. One symptom (increased smell perception) was found significantly less often in MS patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
MS patients suffer significantly more often from FS symptoms and signs than controls. The reason for this association between MS and FS and the potential implications of this association still need to be determined.
How is Flammer syndrome treated medically? Maybe the same treatment can benefit us.
I've searched but can't find much of anything for research on nailfold capillaroscopy in MS. This is a primary way of diagnosing Flammer syndrome, and Raynaud's Syndrome too, which is associated with MS. This was interesting, though: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02181185 Research shows that cooling hands in subjects with vasospasm reduced the flow of capillaries down to a standstill both in the hands and the eyes. Nifedipine, a drug, counters this. Reducing the flow of capillaries in the eyes can lead to reperfusion injury, and reduction of blood vessels of the eyes, which is seen in MS patients according to the research in the other thread.