Hopeful New Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

A new study led by Professor Lars Fugger of the Medical Research Council Immunology Unit and Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford University, has found that the drug amiloride can reduce the degeneration of nerve tissue in mice. Research was done on mice that had a condition similar to multiple sclerosis in humans. Researchers believe this would benefit multiple sclerosis patients. Researchers say that clinical trials on humans will be necessary to determine the effectiveness of amiloride for humans with multiple sclerosis.

Amiloride is not a new drug. Amiloride has been used as a medication to treat high blood pressure. It is not uncommon for new uses to be found for existing drugs. Finding new uses for existing medications is exciting and practical. It is much cheaper to use existing medications than it is to create new ones.

Amiloride is believed to work by blocking sodium and calcium molecules from entering into cells. In people with multiple sclerosis, their cells appear to let in to much sodium and calcium molecules. The excess of these molecules in cells, damage the nerves ability to carry messages to other nerves and in affect damages the nerves.

Approximately 400,000 people in America currently have multiple sclerosis with 200 more people a week being diagnosed. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that affects the nervous system. Multiple sclerosis is believed to be an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is where the body attacks itself. In multiple sclerosis, the body attacks the myelin. Myelin coats and protects nerves. With the myelin destroyed, nerves are more open to damage. The damage the disease causes to nerves can cause a wide array of symptoms in different patients. Not every patient gets the same symptoms. A partial list of possible symptoms are: Pain, numbness, difficulty walking, inability to walk, bladder dysfunction, fatigue, dizziness. Multiple sclerosis is diagnosed through a medical history and tests. Tests can include a MRI to view the signs of multiple sclerosis in the brain or a spinal tap which allows doctors to check the spinal fluid for multiple sclerosis.

Researchers have high hopes for using amiloride to reduce nerve damage in multiple sclerosis patients. Professor Lars Fugger and the Medical Research Council Immunology Unit and Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford University are planning to start clinical trials in humans with multiple sclerosis soon.

Source:
www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2007/071112_2.html
www.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer