Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

In 1999, the American Academy of Neurology's position was that trauma and/or head injury is unlikely to create or permanently aggravate multiple sclerosis. This conclusion is not universally accepted among neurologists and research continues to suggest a possible link.

  • Multiple Sclerosis & Physical Trauma

  •  Relationship Between Acute Stress and Aggravation of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis & Physical Trauma

For over a century, patients and physicians have dealt with the phenomena that suggests that trauma may proceed the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) or may aggravate ongoing multiple sclerosis. Because of the variability of the course of multiple sclerosis, there is some controversy regarding the causation between physical trauma and onset or aggravation of multiple sclerosis. However, more recent studies have shown that trauma to the head and neck does indeed bear a relationship to the aggravation of or creation of multiple sclerosis.

 Relationship Between Acute Stress and Aggravation of Multiple Sclerosis:

The relationship between acute stress and aggravation of quiet or asymptomatic multiple sclerosis (MS) is well established by medical literature especially that which has come out since the year 2000.

·       The study published in the distinguished Journal of Neurology in 2000 by Mohr et al entitled "Psychological Stress and the Subsequent Appearance of New Brain MRI Lesions in MS" examines the relationship between stressful life events and the subsequent development of brain lesions on MRI. The results state "for a total sample of patients, increase conflict and disruption in routine was followed by increased odds of developing new Gd + brain lesions eight weeks later."

·       An article (Esposito, et al) in the "Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics" looked at the cellular mechanism involved in stress on a microscopic level. Their findings, published December 2002, state "these results demonstrate that CRH and the mast cells are involved in regulating BBB permeability and possibly, brain inflammatory disorders exacerbated by acute stress."

·       An article from a distinguished British Medical Journal(BMJ) was published in 2003. The paper entitled "Self Reported Stressful Life Events and Exacerbations in Multiple Sclerosis: Prospective Study" (Buljevac D. et al, 2003) sought to study the relationship between stressful life events not related to multiple sclerosis and the occurrence of exacerbations in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Patients used in the study were ones with the ability to walk, such as the Plaintiff. It noted in the introduction to the paper that "psychological stress is an additional factor that has been implicated repeatedly as a determinate of disease activity ever since Charcot first described the disease." In the conclusion to the study it was noted "stressful events were associated with increased exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. This association was independent of the triggering effect of infections on exacerbations of multiple sclerosis." They noted that this study fulfilled an earlier need by the American Academy of Neurology to obtain tightly defined prospective study on stress and aggravation of multiple sclerosis. They noted that their study adds "that patients with multiple sclerosis who experience a stressful event are subsequently at increased risk of an exacerbation of their disease."

·       A Harvard Medical School (2002) study "The Role of Stress in Neuro - degeneration Diseases and Mental Disorders" noted the relationship between stress and disease such as multiple sclerosis. A 2002 University of California study (Mohr D.C. et al) entitled "Moderating Effects of Coping on the Relationship Between Stress and the Development of New Brain Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis" stated "considerable research has supported a relationship between stress and both clinical exacerbation and the development of new brain lesions".

·       The Journal "Neuroendocrinology Letters" in 2004 published a supportive article.

·       The Journal of Neuroimmunology in 2004 confirmed again that stress can affect the mast cells leading to worsening of inflammatory diseases.