What's new in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis? A review

A preliminary study into the dental health status of multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology involving the central nervous system. Since MS affects the whole body, orofacial aspects of the disease must be expected, particularly since loss of muscular coordination may result in a diminished ability to maintain oral hygiene. This preliminary study examined the dental health status of 22 volunteer MS patients. A questionnaire collected data regarding medical and dental histories and socio-demographic information. Extra- and intra-oral examinations were carried out on all subjects to determine the particular dental treatment needs of this special group. The DMFT and CPITN scores for this group did not indicate that MS patients were more susceptible to dental caries or periodontal disease. However, the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction in the group studied indicated that these conditions may be manifest in MS patients and warrant further investigations.

The etiology of multiple sclerosis: a new and extended vascular-ischemic model

It is hypothesized that multiple sclerosis is a disease of the cerebro-vascular system. The basic defect is visualized as a wound in the CNS due to a focal hypertension of genetically susceptible vessels which results in vascular injury and the initiation of a series of biochemical and physiological events culminating in an ischemic hypoxia leading to demyelination and a secondary damaging process associated with the immune system.