Cracking the Case: NY Methodist’s Multiple Sclerosis Center

Since it was first recognized as a disease in 1873, multiple sclerosis (MS) has been an elusive culprit worthy of Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, the Hardy Boys, and the cast of all the CSI shows combined. MS is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system, but despite its prevalence, its diagnosis requires a lot of detective work.

“The biggest mystery about multiple sclerosis is that no one knows what causes it,” said Kristen Babinski, M.D., neurologist and director of New York Methodist Hospital’s (NYM) Multiple Sclerosis Center. “Furthermore, there is no single test that can confirm a diagnosis of MS.”

“That’s why,” Babinski said, “to diagnose a patient, physicians first need to build a ‘case’ through a clinical evaluation, careful examination of medical history, radiologic imaging, and sometimes even a spinal tap. You also need to rule out conditions that might cause symptoms similar to MS, such as lupus and Lyme disease. However, the payoff for ‘cracking the case’ is well worth it. Advanced medical treatments are now available that make it easier than ever before for MS patients to live full, happy lives.”

In a patient with MS, the body’s myelin sheath (a complex material that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers) is damaged, severely hindering nerves’ ability to conduct electrical signals. There are many ways in which MS presents itself, but in the vast majority of patients, it manifests through temporary “attacks” of neurologic symptoms, including vision loss, paralysis, numbness, and walking difficulties.

In over 90 percent of MS patients, an MRI will reveal scarring – also known as plaque or white matter – in the myelin sheath, but this scarring can be caused by other diseases as well.

“The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be non-specific,” said Steven Garner, M.D., chairman of the Department of Radiology. “This is why neuroradiologists with expertise in the disease, such as NYM’s Corrado Baratti, M.D. and Alan Bergman, M.D., have become a crucial part of MS diagnosis and treatment. However, it takes a neurologist who is trained in the most advanced clinical research, to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. That’s where Babinski and NYM’s Multiple Sclerosis Center comes in.”

NYM’s MS Center stands apart from others of its kind by combining excellent, compassionate care for MS patients with an aggressive, multidisciplinary approach to management of the disease. Multiple sclerosis itself cannot be “cured,” however, the identification and treatment of early multiple sclerosis can have a profound impact on a patient’s quality of life in the years to come.

The good news is that treatments for MS are evolving rapidly. Oral medications that decrease the frequency of attacks are now available where, previously, only injections would suffice. And for patients with more aggressive cases of MS, IV infusions of some antibiotics can drastically slow the progression of the disease. To address long-term symptoms, the MS team also includes rehabilitation specialists, physical and occupational therapists, urologists, a urogynecologist, psychiatrists and an ophthalmologist.

“At NYM’s Multiple Sclerosis Center,” said Dr. Babinski, “our goal isn’t just to slow the progression of MS — it’s also to help our patients minimize whatever symptoms they may be experiencing.”

To learn more about New York Methodist Hospital’s Multiple Sclerosis Center, call 718-246-8818.

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