Leah realizes that she cannot wait until her appointment toreceive medical care; she quickly goes to the emergency room. Aftera mountain of questions about Leah’s symptoms and medical history,the doctors decide to admit her for further testing. She istransferred to the neurology unit and the doctors request sheundergo a series of laboratory tests, including an MRI and a spinaltap. In the meantime, the doctors prescribe high dosages ofsteroids to help alleviate the symptoms.

Upon reviewing Leah’s medical history and the results of thevarious laboratory tests, the neurologists diagnose her withMultiple Sclerosis (MS). They explain to her that MS is anautoimmune disease and that her own immune system has beenattacking the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves of hercentral nervous system. She remains in the hospital for a weekuntil sensation is fully recovered in her lower body and strengthis restored in her legs. She is discharged from the hospital andschedules a follow up appointment with the neurologist.
When she returns to the neurologist, they discuss Leah’s diferentoptions for treatment. Because there is no cure for the disease,options in medication vary greatly. She decides to try dailyinjections of Copaxone, a medication that is similar in structureto a protein found in myelin.
Leah continues to see the neurologist on a regular basis and givesherself an injection every evening. Over the course of seven monthsof therapy, she only experiences one occurrence of numbness, whichsubsides after a couple of days. She tries to stay positive andtries to minimize the disease’s impact on her life.
Questions

1. What is myelin and how does it affect thetransmission of nerve impulses? Identify the cells responsible forthe formation of myelin.

2. Why did Leah experience the altered sensation in herlower body? Was there something wrong with her skin?Why couldn’tshe stand? Was there something wrong with the muscles of her rightleg?

3. What are the “scleroses” in Multiple Sclerosis andwhere do they occur? How does this influence nervetransmission?

4. How does an MRI and spinal tap help confirm thediagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis?

5. Why did steroids help alleviate Kathy’ssymptoms?

6. Did Leah’s hearing loss haveanything to do with the Multiple Sclerosis? Why/Whynot?