Prognosis and factors that predict outcome in multiple sclerosis
Matsui, M.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 61(8): 1396-1401
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 12962029 Document Number: 554845
An understanding of the natural history of multiple sclerosis(MS) in a patient is important to begin proper treatment at the correct time, especially when there is a high risk for poor prognosis. Factors that predict unfavorable prognosis are a primary or secondary progressive course, older age at disease onset, short interval between first and second attacks, initial cerebellar or pyramidal symptoms, a large number of functional systems involved at onset, moderate to severe disability within the first 2 years, and the presence of typical plaques or greater lesion volume shown by magnetic resonance imaging results during the first 5 years. However, there are no established laboratory tests able to predict long-term prognosis.