MSdecisions - Glossary

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.
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
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.
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.
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.