Relapse Types in MS

Kalincik T et al. on behalf of the MSBase Study Group.Risk of relapse phenotype recurrence in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2014 Apr. [Epub ahead of print]

OBJECTIVES:The aim was to analyse risk of relapse phenotype recurrence in multiple sclerosis and to characterise the effect of demographic and clinical features on this phenotype.
METHODS:Information about relapses was collected using MSBase, an international observational registry. Associations between relapse phenotypes and history of similar relapses or patient characteristics were tested.
RESULTS:Among 14,969 eligible patients (89,949 patient-years), 49,279 phenotypically characterised relapses were recorded. Visual (blurred vision, blindness) and brainstem (double vision, altered sensation in the face ataxia relapses occurred more frequently in early disease and in younger patients. Sensory (numbness) relapses were more frequent in early or non-progressive disease. Pyramidal (weakness), sphincter (incontience) and cerebellar (balance co-ordination) relapses were more common in older patients and in progressive disease. Women presented more often with sensory or visual symptoms. Men were more prone to pyramidal, brainstem and cerebellar relapses. Importantly, relapse phenotype was predicted by the phenotypes of previous relapses. (OR = 1.8-5, p = 10-14). Sensory, visual and brainstem relapses showed better recovery than other relapse phenotypes. Relapse severity increased and the ability to recover decreased with age or more advanced disease.
CONCLUSION: Relapse phenotype was associated with demographic and clinical characteristics, with phenotypic recurrence significantly more common than expected by chance.



Sometimes bits of the iceberg surface and you notice it. This paper describes the type of symptoms that may develop when a relapse occurs and these are related to where in your central nervous system things are occurring. The data suggests that your preceding relapses may be a reasonable indicator of what may happen again down the line. As you get older and the longer you have had MS the less recovery you will have so,further evidences that having relapses is not a good thing and best deal with them if you can.

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