Pamela is a social worker, age 36, that has recently received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Pamela reports that she has lost part of her left visual field, has weakness in her legs, and numbness in her face. Pamela’s mother also had multiple sclerosis.
1. Please state the relevant factors in the patient history and the diagnostic tests that would indicate multiple sclerosis as a possible diagnosis.
2. Please describe the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis.
3. State the possible locations of the lesions that have caused Pamela’s visual and motor deficits.
4. Describe the typical course of multiple sclerosis that Pamela can expect in the future.
5. Suggest several measures that can be used to minimize exacerbations.
