Clinical Course of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

The 1996 originally established multiple sclerosis (MS) subtypes, based solely on clinical impression and consensus, were revised in 2013 to review potential imaging and biological correlates and to reflect recently identified clinical aspects of MS. As a result, potential new disease phenotypes, radiologically isolated syndrome, and clinically isolated syndrome were considered along with the addition of two new descriptor subtypes: activity and progression applied to relapsing remitting and progressive MS phenotypes. In this way, the description of an individual patient's disease course is refined and provides temporal information about the ongoing disease process. There is still a lack of imaging and biological markers that would distinguish MS phenotypes and prognosticate the disease course on an individual patient's level, creating a pressing need for large collaborative research efforts in this field.

Figure 1.

Disease course of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). (Reprinted, with permission, from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.)

Figure 2.

Disease course of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). RRMS, Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging. (Reprinted, with permission, from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.)

Figure 3.

Disease course of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging. (Reprinted, with permission, from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.)