The Clinical Spectrum of Multiple Sclerosis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated by an inappropriate immune response within the body against the insulating myelin sheath. Methods: Between January 2016 and March 2019, 20 diagnosed cases of MS were recruited for the study. Patient history was collected using a pre-designed standardized clinical proforma. Results: The outcomes of the present study reveal a resemblance of MS patterns in Andhra Pradesh with India and with the West. MS is more common in women. The second and third decades are the most common. The incidence of the disease decreased with age. In comparison to relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary-progressive MS (PPMS) had a younger onset age. The most common type of MS is RRMS. Individuals had different relapse rates. Relapses are more common in patients who first develop the disease at a young age. In PPMS patients, oligoclonal band (OCB) positivity is higher than in RRMS patients. A considerable number of individuals exhibited aberrant visual evoked potential (VEP) even in the absence of visual complaints. Disease-modifying drugs decreased the disease frequency and severity. Patients who started these drugs after 1 - 2 relapses had good results. Conclusion: According to the findings, larger data sets are needed to completely characterize disease patterns. Given the rising prevalence of MS across India, it has become necessary to establish regional and national MS registries. J Neurol Res. 2023;13(1):43-49 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr750