(RxWiki News) Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that can stop people from being able to move.
While there is no cure for MS, the disease develops slower in some people than others. A new tool can tell how fast mutliple sclerosis patients will become disabled.
Using a common test for diagnosing MS, researchers can predict how quickly patients will become disabled from the disease. This tool will allow doctors to prepare their MS patients for the struggle ahead, hopefully relieving some of their fears.
"Doctors can now tell how fast MS will take its toll on your body."
According to Junger Tang, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic, this study is a huge step forward for being able to predict outcomes for multiple sclerosis patients. Tang adds that we now need more research to confirm these findings.
In Depth
For their study, Mayo Clinic researchers looked at results from cerebrospinal fluid tests - a test for diagnosing MS - of 281 MS patients. They discovered a link between a faster rate of disability and high levels of two proteins called oligoclonal band and immunoglobulin-G molecule.
The study's authors conclude that MS patients will become disabled faster if they have both a progressive form of MS and high levels of the two proteins above.
