Neurológia pre prax 2/2014

Impaired mobility in multiple sclerosis as a severe factor affecting quality of life

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized by increasing disability resulting from central nervous system inflammation, progressive demyelination, and axonal loss. Impaired mobility, and mostly impaired walking is suggested to be an important contributory factor to functional activity and independence of patients´ with MS. The functional dissability in MS patients occurs due to demyelination and degeneration of axons, which is associated with impaired conductivity. The purpose of this article to explain the role of natrium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels for the impulse conduction and possibilty to improvement conductivity by K+ channel blockade with 4-amidopyridine (4-AP). The last studies indicated the important role of potassium channel in MS pathogenesis. Serum levels of antibodies to potassium channel KIR4.1 were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis, mobility, potassium channels, natrium channels, quality of life.