Multiple Sclerosis Sub Types

Several disease subtypes or modes of progression have been individuated within MS. It is important to ascertain which subtype a patient suffers from as it will be important for both the prognosis and for the treatment of the disease. Four Multiple Sclerosis subtypes have been classified:

•Primary Progressive MS which is characterised by initially subtle symptoms which gradually get worse over time rather than appearing as sudden attacks. It leads to progressive disability with small or no remission and improvements. Primary Progressive MS usually develops at a later age than the other subtypes and affects about the 10-15 % of all MS patients.

•Relapsing-Remitting MS is a more benign form which alternates period of exacerbation of the disease with prolonged periods of remission which can last months or even years with no MS symptoms or signs.

•Secondary Progressive MS begins similarly to the relapsing-remitting subtype and can act this way for 2 to 40 years. However, after many years, Secondary Progressive MS patients experience a steady progression of neurologic damage between flares without any real periods of remission. Although minor remissions may occasionally appear these tend to tail off over time.

•Progressive Relapsing MS which is a combination of Primary Progressive and Relapsing-Remitting MS and refers to those patients who suffer from a constant neurological decline from inception, but also from occasional superimposed active phases. There is good recovery immediately after an exacerbation, but between relapses patients experience a gradual worsening of symptoms.

There are also cases of non-standard or mixed forms of MS which are called borderline forms of Multiple Sclerosis. MS also behaves differently in children.