How many people are diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome?
1 in a million individuals
100
True or false. The cause of stiff person syndrome is 100% clear to scientists.
False.
100
What are common symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome?
Muscle rigidly, and spasms
100
True or false. The stem cell transplant is autologous (stem cells provided by the patient)
True
100
In chemotherapy, what is inserted into the blood stream to kill immune cells?
A chemical
200
Stiff Person Syndrome affects the nervous system. What type of disorder is this?
Neurological disorder
200
Why is SPS classified as a syndrome and not a disease?
A syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms known to frequently appear together without a known cause. While a disease is linked to the collection of signs and symptoms with a known cause.
200
What is SPS often misdiagnosed with other disorders and symptoms like Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and anxiety?
Lack of awareness. Spread the word!
200
Where are the blood cells collected from in this transplant?
Bone marrow
200
What is the name of the flexible tube that is inserted to the chest to deliver medicine, nutrition and blood?
Catheter
300
What causes the muscles to contract of stiffen?
False signals from the brain
300
A person with SPS lacks the production of a chemical called Gamma-aminobutyric Acid Why is this chemical essential to the body?
It is the body's main neurotransmitter and a natural anti-anxiety reliever.
300
Stiffness in the trunks and limbs cause what type of pain?
Muscle pain
300
What does the transplant return to the body?
Purified stem cells/ diseased free immune cells
300
An apheresis machine collects and separates blood into what four components?
Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma
400
What triggers the muscles in the body to contract or stiffen?
Loud noises, stress, and temperature
400
What causes the immune cells to turn against the body?
Demyelination of the peripheral nerves prevents them from transferring normal signals to and from the brain
400
A symptom of SPS is lordosis. What is lordosis?
An exaggerated curved lower back
400
What is a hematopoietic stem cell?
A cell isolated from the bone marrow that can renew itself and can differentiate to a variety of specialized cells.
400
What machine is used to pull the stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the blood?
Apheresis machine
500
What type of disorder is Stiff Person classified as? Why?
Autoimmune disease. The immune system turns against a person’s own tissues, attacking cells in the brain and spinal cord.
500
An auto-antibody that is introduced in the brain and spinal cord is linked to cause SPS. What is the name of this auto-antibody?
Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65)
500
What type of test is used to diagnose a patient with SPS?
Blood test
500
What type of process must undergo before proceeding with the transplant? Why?
Patients must undergo a screening process. This process checks the strength of organs and searches for anything that may interfere with the process.