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| October 18 | |
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Multiple Sclerosis |
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Three hundred and fifty thousand Americans suffer with multiple sclerosis. This week, the FDA approved a drug that could bring new hope to people with the advanced form of the disease. The drug is called Novantrone which is actually a cancer drug that’s been used to fight prostrate cancer and leukemia. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, for short, is a disease of the nervous system, caused by a breakdown in the myelin sheath, which covers the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord. This can cause weakness, problems with vision, poor muscle coordination and even paralysis. MS can have different patterns, sometimes leaving patients well after bad episodes, or sometimes the disease progresses after these episodes. It’s thought that people with MS have white blood cells that attack their nervous system. Novantrone helps to keep these blood cells at bay. In clinical studies, it delayed the disease from progressing and prolonged the time between relapses in patients with advanced or chronic MS. Common side effects of Novantrone include nausea, hair loss, bladder infections, and changes in the menstrual cycle. It may also affect the liver. The medicine can also cause heart problems; because of this, there is a limit on how much and how often the drug can be used. |
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REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Food and Drug Administration
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke |
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