Glossary

cirrhosis: a form of liver disease in which scar tissue stiffens blood vessels, impairing its function; can be caused by drinking too much alcohol, poor nutrition, or infections (especially by hepatitis viruses)
cognitive: having to do with the mental processes of knowing, being aware, having perceptions, reasoning, and the ability to make judgments
congestive heart failure: a progressive condition in which the heart weakens and is unable to pump enough blood to the lungs and other parts of the body
intramuscular (IM) injection: Procedure in which a drug is given intramuscularly (through a needle inserted into a muscle).
immune system: Your body's complex system for ensuring immunity to disease and recovery from injury. In MS, however, certain cells of the immune system do not function normally, and attack the brain and spinal cord.
immunosuppressive drugs: Drugs that suppress the immune system in order to treat immune system diseases such as MS.
intravenous (IV) infusion: Procedure in which a drug is given intravenously (through a needle inserted into a vein in your arm or hand) over a period of time.
lesions: an area of inflamed or demyelinated center nervous system tissue.
left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): A measure of your heart's ability to pump blood.
multiple sclerosis (MS): Disease that affects the central nervous system-the brain and spinal cord. In MS, certain cells in your immune system attack your brain and spinal cord. These cells destroy myelin, the protective sheath that covers the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
myelin sheath: the insulating layer that forms around nerves and helps with the transmission of nerve impulses; if the myelin is damaged, the impulses are disrupted. This can cause diseases like multiple sclerosis.
placebo: A treatment that has no active ingredients, such as a sugar pill or an IV infusion of an inactive colored liquid. In scientific studies, people taking a placebo are compared to people taking a drug under investigation.
Primary progressive MS: People with primary progressive MS have steadily worsening symptoms from the very start and do not have distinct relapses. Their disability grows gradually worse, and it may level off at some point or continue over months or years. Many doctors think that this type of MS is an entirely different disease from the other types; therefore, we will not focus on this form of the disease.
progressive relapsing MS: MS with unpredictable relapses, but also with a gradual increase in symptoms and in disability between relapses. Sometimes called relapsing progressive MS.
relapsing–remitting MS: The most common form of MS characterized by unpredictable relapses. Many people with relapsing remitting MS return to normal between relapses. However, some people with relapsing-remitting MS can get worse after each relapse. If they do, their condition is called worsening relapsing-remitting MS.
sclerosis: Areas on the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves where myelin is damaged and scar tissue forms.
secondary progressive MS: This type, formerly called chronic progressive MS, develops within 10 years in about 50% of people who have had relapsing-remitting MS. Some people with secondary progressive MS have relapses, but many do not. Over time, people with this condition experience a gradual and continuous increase in symptoms and disability. Secondary progressive MS affects 140,000 people in the United States-between one-third and one-half of people with MS. Fifteen years after developing secondary progressive MS, 50% of people require canes or other walking aids, and 10% need a wheelchair.
signs: any abnormality indicating which can be discovery by the physician by physical examination or testing which may indicate the presence of disease
subcutaneous (SC) injections: injections given under the skin; used for some MS treatments.
symptoms: any abnormality in function, appearance, or sensation, experienced by the patient, which may indicate the presence of disease
worsening relapsing-remitting MS: MS with unpredictable relapses of symptoms, from which people do not return to normal and do not recover fully. Therefore, with each relapse, their MS gets worse. Between relapses, their condition is stable.