Does Early-Onset Multiple Scleroses differ from Adult-onset form?

Background and objective: Few studies have attempted to delineate the clinical profile of multiple Sclerosis (MS) among people of Asia; therefore we sought to identify the characteristics of early-onset Multiple Sclerosis (EOMS) comparison to adult-onset form (AOMS) in Isfahan, IRAN. Patients and Methods: this prospective study consisted of 104 youths with multiple sclerosis beginning before the age of 16 years and 123 patients with adult-onset multiple sclerosis. Patients were followed for a mean period observation of 5 years. The common presenting symptoms, MRI finding, course of disease and disability score were compared between two groups. Results: The mean onset age of disease in youths and adults were 14.05±1.9 and 27.7±8.06 respectively. Female /Male ratio was 4.47:1 in EOMS and 3.92:1 in AOMS, this ratio was 7:1 in really childhood MS (≤10 year). The most common presenting symptom was Optic Neuritis in the EOMS group and paresthesia in AOMS. Optic neuritis was common in AOMS too,but ataxia was more common in EOMS than AOMS. Seizure occurred more frequently in EOMS than in the AOMS group (12.6% vs 1.6% respectively p<0.001). In MRI, brainstem plaques was significantly more prevalent in the EOMS than in the AOMS group (12.5% vs 5% respectively p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result of this study we concluded that Early – Onset MS does not significantly differ from adult form in term of major clinical manifestation and course of disease ,however Seizure is more common in EOMS and ataxia and cerebellar symptoms as presenting symptom are more common.