Types of Multiple Sclerosis

Ms has been divided into several main types. They include:

• Clinically Isolated Syndrome: This is how MS often appears in the beginning. The person experiences a single attack of neurological symptoms, and when an MRI is performed, multiple lesions on the brain may be visible.
• Relapsing remitting - This type of multiple sclerosis is characterized by clearly defined flare-ups, followed by periods of complete or partial remission. The flare-ups typically appear suddenly, last a few weeks or months, and then gradually disappear. Most people with MS have this form at the time of diagnosis.
• Benign Relapsing Remitting: (initial diagnosis in 10-15% of cases) Remissions are so complete with the benign form of MS that minimal disability is seen 10-15 years after onset of the disease. The symptoms for this form of MS mainly affect the sense of sight and/or touch. As the years after onset of the disease increases symptoms progress and the proportion of benign cases decrease.

Progressive MS

In progressive MS, disability slowly and continuously worsens, with or without relapses and remissions. There are three patterns of progressive MS. They include:

• Primary progressive. (10-15% of cases) People with this form of multiple sclerosis experience a continuous worsening of the disease with no signs of relapses or remissions. This type of MS most often appears after age 40 and affects males and females equally.
• Progressive relapsing. This is primary progressive MS with the addition of sudden episodes of new symptoms or worsened existing ones. This form is relatively uncommon.
• Secondary progressive. More than half the people with relapsing remitting MS eventually enter a stage of continuous deterioration referred to as secondary progressive MS. Sudden relapses may occur, superimposed upon the continuous deterioration that characterizes this type of multiple sclerosis.