Swain S E
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, USA.
Nurse Pract. 1996 Jul;21(7):40, 43, 47-50 passim.
Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurologic disease disabling young adults less than 40 years of age in the United States. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system myelin, often viewed as an autoimmune disorder. Due to the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis, several years may pass between first onset of symptoms and an accurate diagnosis. The etiology remains unclear, but current research leans toward an immunologic and viral pathogenesis. The three main goals of treatment are to delay progression of disease, manage chronic symptoms, and treat acute exacerbations. While no cure has been found, copolymer 1 and interferon beta are each generating excitement in possibly delaying progression of multiple sclerosis. As the disease causes a set of highly variable and complex consequences, patients often require care from a multidisciplinary team of health care providers. Therefore, it is essential that primary care providers possess a basic understanding of the etiology, clinical features, prognosis, and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
在美国，多发性硬化症是导致40岁以下年轻人致残的最常见神经系统疾病。它是一种中枢神经系统髓鞘的慢性炎症性疾病，常被视为自身免疫性疾病。由于诊断困难，从症状首次出现到准确诊断之间可能会间隔数年。病因尚不清楚，但目前的研究倾向于免疫和病毒发病机制。治疗的三个主要目标是延缓疾病进展、管理慢性症状和治疗急性发作。虽然尚未找到治愈方法，但共聚肽1和β-干扰素在可能延缓多发性硬化症进展方面都引起了人们的关注。由于该疾病会导致一系列高度可变且复杂的后果，患者通常需要多学科医疗团队的护理。因此，初级保健提供者对多发性硬化症的病因、临床特征、预后和治疗有基本的了解至关重要。
