Research news
Open Door - August 2009 page 6
- Help with swallowing difficulties
- Breastfeeding and relapses
- Pregnancy and secondary progression
- Sweating and MS
- Fasting and MS
Help with swallowing difficulties
Although difficulty swallowing (known as dysphagia) is not generally regarded as a common symptom of MS, studies have found that 33% of people with MS report swallowing problems. Treatment options are limited.
This small study looked at the effect of applying electrodes to the skin of the neck to stimulate the muscles involved in the swallow reflex. 25 people with MS who had swallowing problems received twice weekly sessions of electrical stimulation for three weeks. Treatment reduced the pooling of saliva in part of the throat in six people and aspiration into the lungs during swallowing of thin liquids in nine people. Overall, people reported that their swallowing had improved and in 20% it had become less strenuous.
Bogaardt H, et al.
Use of neuromuscular electrostimulation in the treatment of dysphagia in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Annals Of Otology, Rhinology And Laryngology 2009;118(4):241-246.
abstract
Breastfeeding and relapses
This study followed 32 women with MS for one year after giving birth. Just over half breastfed for less than two months or not at all. Of these, 87% had a relapse within the study period, compared with 36% of the remaining women who breastfed for two months or more. Breastfeeding was associated with a later return of menstruation and this was correlated with reduced risk of relapse. The investigators acknowledged that the results may be biased because women with more severe MS were less likely to breastfeed than those with milder MS. However, the study does raise questions about the benefits of foregoing breastfeeding in order to start MS therapies and should be investigated in a larger study.
Langer-Gould A, et al.
Exclusive breastfeeding and the risk of postpartum relapses in women with multiple sclerosis.
Archives Of Neurology 2009;66(8):958-963.
abstract
Pregnancy and secondary progression
The association between the number of births and onset of secondary progression was studied in a group of 277 women with MS. The investigators found no evidence that the number of births influenced the risk of developing secondary progressive MS.
Koch M, et al.
Parity and secondary progression in multiple sclerosis.
Journal Neurology Neurosurgery And Psychiatry 2009 Jun;80(6): 676-678.
abstract
Sweating and MS
It is well known that heat can cause a worsening of symptoms for many people with MS. In this study, sweating was measured after a heat stimulus in 29 people with MS and 15 controls. People with MS sweated markedly less than controls and this effect seemed to be related to disease severity as measured by EDSS scores (a clinical measure of disability).
Saari A, et al.
Sweating impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 2009;120(5):358-363.
abstract
Fasting and MS
The effect of prolonged fasting on MS has been investigated by researchers in Iran. 80 people with mild MS (EDSS of 3 or less) were followed for six months after Ramadan; half of the group fasted, the other half did not. At the end of the study, there was no significant change in EDSS or frequency of relapses between the two groups, indicating that fasting had no short-term effects in people with MS and mild disability.
Saadatnia M, et al.
Short-term effects of prolonged fasting on multiple sclerosis.
European Neurology 2009;61(4):230-232.
abstract
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Open Door articles are reproduced as published. They are not updated to take account of subsequent developments. Use appropriate caution in acting on the information in any article.