Multiple sclerosis physical examination

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Physical examination of patients with multiple sclerosis is usually remarkable for lhermitte sign, spasticity and increased reflexes, internuclear ophtalmoplegia, optic neuritis and gait disturbance.

Physical Examination

Physical examination of patients with multiple sclerosis is usually remarkable for:

Lhermitte's Sign

About 25-40% of MS patients experience lhermitte’s sign as an electrical shock sensation going downward from neck when the patients neck bends forward. Lhermitte sign can correlate with MRI abnormalities of caudal medulla or cervical dorsal columns. .[1][2][3][4]

Spasticity and increased reflexes

Damage to the upper motor neurons and decrease inhibition of lower motor neurons in MS can increase muscle tone and rigidity in 75% of MS patients.[5]

Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia

Internuclear ophtalmoplegia (INO) is defined as a gaze problem. Lesions in medial longitudinal fasciculus in brain stem are known to be the cause of INO.[6] The signs of INO are difficulty with adducting in lateral gaze. For compensation of this problem the contra lateral eye will have nystagmus leading to diplopia[7] or vertigo.[8]

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis can be the first sign of multiple sclerosis especially when it’s accompanied by white matter MRI lesions and is very common among these patients.[9][10]

Gait and balance disturbance

involvement of cerebellar tracts can cause Gait and balance Problems in multiple sclerotic patients.[11]

References

  1. Gutrecht JA, Zamani AA, Slagado ED (1993). "Anatomic-radiologic basis of Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis". Arch. Neurol. 50 (8): 849–51. PMID 8352672.
  2. Al-Araji AH, Oger J (2005). "Reappraisal of Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis". Mult. Scler. 11 (4): 398–402. PMID 16042221.
  3. Sandyk R, Dann LC (1995). "Resolution of Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis by treatment with weak electromagnetic fields". Int. J. Neurosci. 81 (3–4): 215–24. PMID 7628912.
  4. Kanchandani R, Howe JG (1982). "Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis: a clinical survey and review of the literature". J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 45 (4): 308–12. PMID 7077340.
  5. Boissy AR, Cohen JA (September 2007). "Multiple sclerosis symptom management". Expert Rev Neurother. 7 (9): 1213–22. doi:10.1586/14737175.7.9.1213. PMID 17868019.
  6. Frohman EM, Zhang H, Kramer PD, Fleckenstein J, Hawker K, Racke MK, Frohman TC (September 2001). "MRI characteristics of the MLF in MS patients with chronic internuclear ophthalmoparesis". Neurology. 57 (5): 762–8. PMID 11552000.
  7. Mills DA, Frohman TC, Davis SL, Salter AR, McClure S, Beatty I, Shah A, Galetta S, Eggenberger E, Zee DS, Frohman EM (August 2008). "Break in binocular fusion during head turning in MS patients with INO". Neurology. 71 (6): 458–60. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000324423.08538.dd. PMID 18678831.
  8. Kim JS (May 2004). "Internuclear ophthalmoplegia as an isolated or predominant symptom of brainstem infarction". Neurology. 62 (9): 1491–6. PMID 15136670.
  9. Beck RW, Trobe JD (1995). "What we have learned from the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial". Ophthalmology. 102 (10): 1504–8. PMID 9097798.
  10. "The 5-year risk of MS after optic neuritis: experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial. 1997". Neurology. 57 (12 Suppl 5): S36–45. 2001. PMID 11902594.
  11. Rinker JR, Salter AR, Walker H, Amara A, Meador W, Cutter GR (January 2015). "Prevalence and characteristics of tremor in the NARCOMS multiple sclerosis registry: a cross-sectional survey". BMJ Open. 5 (1): e006714. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006714. PMC 4289717. PMID 25573524.

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