[Prognosis and factors that predict outcome in multiple sclerosis]

Abstract

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.