Biomaterial Database

Childhood-juvenile multiple sclerosis: clinical characteristics and treatment. 2005

Angelo Ghezzi

Ospedale di Gallarate, Centro Studi Sclerosi Multipla, via Pastori 4, 21013 Gallarate, Italy. centro.sm@libero.it

The characteristics of multiple sclerosis with onset during childhood or adolescence are presented in this review. The clinical findings are similar to those of the adult form, but some aspects are peculiar: the high female to male ratio, occurrence of hyperacute forms, occurrence of encephalopatic symptoms and high relapse rate. The evolution is relapsing-progressive in most cases. Mild and severe disability are reached after a longer interval than in the adult form but, in spite of this, at a given age disability is higher. A high relapse rate, short interval between first and second attack and high disability after the first year are negative prognostic factors. Magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid data are discussed, with particular reference to differential diagnosis from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Currently, there are no controlled trials concerning subjects aged under 16 years. Some observations demonstrate that immunomodulatory drugs are well tolerated and have a beneficial effect, reducing the relapse rate and progression of the disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007155	Immunologic Factors	Biologically active substances whose activities affect or play a role in the functioning of the immune system.	Biological Response Modifier,Biomodulator,Immune Factor,Immunological Factor,Immunomodulator,Immunomodulators,Biological Response Modifiers,Biomodulators,Factors, Immunologic,Immune Factors,Immunological Factors,Modifiers, Biological Response,Response Modifiers, Biological,Factor, Immune,Factor, Immunological,Factors, Immune,Factors, Immunological,Modifier, Biological Response,Response Modifier, Biological
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D017668	Age of Onset	The age, developmental stage, or period of life at which a disease or the initial symptoms or manifestations of a disease appear in an individual.	Age-at-Onset,Age at Onset,Onset Age