Glossary

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ALT : Alanine aminotransferase, an enzyme found mainly in the liver which can be measured to detect liver
damage.
ALP : Alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme found in the liver, bones and other organs which can be measured to
detect liver damage.
Ambulatory : The ability to walk; "He was ambulatory", i.e. he was able to walk.
Anaemia : A reduction in the ability of blood to carry oxygen - due to either an absolute reduction in the number of red blood cells or a reduction in the protein haemoglobin that carries the oxygen.
AST : Aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme found in red blood cells, the liver and other organs which can be
measured to detect liver damage.
Ataxia : Unsteadiness of gait (moving on foot).
Autoimmune disease : A disease where the body’s immune system goes awry and attacks its own tissues.
Bilirubin : A waste substance formed in the liver when haemaglobin breaks down. Unusually high levels can suggest a liver disorder.
Bio-equivalent : A drug that has been manufactured in the same way and has the same effects in the body as another drug but may have a different brand name.
Cerebellar (as in cerebellar functions) : The part of the brain responsible for controlling co-ordination.
Corticosteroids : A group of drugs used in the treatment of MS relapses. Corticosteroids occur naturally in the body as the hormones cortisone and hydrocortisone.
EDSS : Expanded Disability Status Scale
Grade 1 clinical trial : A properly designed randomized, controlled clinical trial, giving the most reliable evidence of treatment effectiveness.
GGT : Gamma-glutamyltransferase, an enzyme found in the liver which can be measured to detect liver damage.
Haemaglobin   The substance in the blood that carries oxygen.
Hemiparesis : Paralysis or weakness of one side of the body (arm and leg).
Hemiplegia : Profound weakness of one side of the body (arm and leg) – more severe than a hemiparesis.
Immune system : The body’s defence system which protects us from bacteria, viruses, toxins and the development of tumours and malignancies.
Lipoatrophy : Indentations where the fat beneath the skin is lost, caused by frequent injections.
Lower Limit of Normal (LLN) : All blood and other test results have a normal range between which a value is considered normal. The lower limit of normal refers to the lower limit of this range.
Mentation : Mental activity; Thinking; The process of thinking (especially thinking carefully).
Monoplegia : Profound weakness of a single limb.
MRI scan : Magnetic Resonance Imaging – a scanning technique which can produce accurate images of the brain and other parts of the body.
MS lesions : Areas of damage to the brain caused by MS which show up as white areas on a MRI scan (sometimes called plaques)
Necrosis : A condition where an area of body tissue dies.
Non-steroidal analgesic : A type of pain killer which includes drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Optic neuritis : An inflammatory condition of the optic nerve, or nerve serving the retina of the eye. It typically cause blurring or loss of central vision and pain behind the eye.
Paraparesis : Paralysis or weakness of the lower limbs.
Paraplegia : Profound weakness of the lower limbs – more severe than a paraparesis.
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) : A rare but very serious brain infection which usually causes death or severe disability.
Proprioceptive / proprioception : Joint position sensation, i.e. the sense of knowing where your body parts are in space.
Pyramidal (as in pyramidal functions) : The nerve pathways of the brain and spinal cord responsible for the control of power.
Quadriparesis : Paralysis or weakness of all four limbs.
RES : Rapidly evolving severe relapsing-remitting MS shown by 2 or more relapses in one year and disease activity shown up on an MRI scan.
Scotoma : A blind spot.
Visual acuity : An index to assess how good your vision is.
Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) : All blood and other test results have a normal range between which a value is considered normal. The upper limit of normal refers to the upper limit of this range.