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- Multiple Sclerosis,
- stem cell,
- oocyte cryopreservation,
- fertility
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system characterized by focal ovoid like lesions of demyelination seen on MRI(1,2). The etiology of MS is unknown, however inflammation followed by CNS demyelination and axonal degeneration are known to be part of the pathologic processes that lead to the disease (1). The mean age of onset of MS is 28-31 years old and tends to affect women more often then men with a ratio of 2.3:1 (3,4) . Other risk factors associated with MS include vitamin D deficiency, smoking, and certain viruses (5). The pattern of the disease can be classified as either Relapsing or Progressive depending on whether the patient has periods with or without symptoms (6). MS is diagnosed clinically with MRI used to support the diagnosis. In cases where the diagnosis isn’t clear the McDonald diagnostic criteria can be applied (2). The life expectancy is reduced 7-14 years compared to the general population with increased deaths from infection, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and suicide (7). Treatment can be divided into acute flairs, chronic, and symptomatic. The acute flairs are generally treated with steroids or plasma exchange, while the chronic disease is generally treated with disease modifying therapy (DMT)(5). No known treatment cures MS or completely prevents progression, however, which has led to many novel therapies. One of the promising therapies being explored for the past 2 decades is autologous hematopoietic cell transplants (AHCT).
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mark-sanchez/7/