Benson LA, Healy BC, Gorman MP, Baruch NF, Gholipour T, Musallam A, Chitnis T.
Elevated relapse rates in paediatric compared to adult MS persist for at least 6 years. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2014;3(2):186-93.
OBJECTIVE:To compare relapse rates in paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and adult-onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS) over the first 6-years of disease.
METHODS:Patients with relapsing-remitting disease onset were identified from the Partners Paediatric MS Centre, Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners MS Centre, Brigham and Women's Hospital. 84 POMS and 258 AOMS patients were included. Annualized relapse rates (ARR) for each individual year from year 1 to year 6, after first attack were compared , as was expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score at the visit closest to each year interval.
RESULTS:ARR was significantly higher in POMS compared to AOMS at individual years (except year 4), and was not significantly affected by adjustment for gender, race and proportion of time on treatment. Despite a 2.30 times higher relapse rate over 6-years, EDSS between groups did not differ. ARR in years 1-5 did not impact year 5 disability measured by EDSS in POMS.
CONCLUSIONS:Our findings demonstrate that higher ARR in POMS relative to AOMS is sustained over 6-years, suggesting a more inflammatory nature and potential disconnect between relapses and disability measured by EDSS early in POMS. This data may be useful when designing clinical trials for POMS.
Elevated relapse rates in paediatric compared to adult MS persist for at least 6 years. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2014;3(2):186-93.
OBJECTIVE:To compare relapse rates in paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and adult-onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS) over the first 6-years of disease.
METHODS:Patients with relapsing-remitting disease onset were identified from the Partners Paediatric MS Centre, Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners MS Centre, Brigham and Women's Hospital. 84 POMS and 258 AOMS patients were included. Annualized relapse rates (ARR) for each individual year from year 1 to year 6, after first attack were compared , as was expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score at the visit closest to each year interval.
RESULTS:ARR was significantly higher in POMS compared to AOMS at individual years (except year 4), and was not significantly affected by adjustment for gender, race and proportion of time on treatment. Despite a 2.30 times higher relapse rate over 6-years, EDSS between groups did not differ. ARR in years 1-5 did not impact year 5 disability measured by EDSS in POMS.
CONCLUSIONS:Our findings demonstrate that higher ARR in POMS relative to AOMS is sustained over 6-years, suggesting a more inflammatory nature and potential disconnect between relapses and disability measured by EDSS early in POMS. This data may be useful when designing clinical trials for POMS.
This study shows that younger MSers may have a higher relapse rate that ault onset MS however they do not aquire more disability. This indicates that younger MSers have a greater reserve capacity as they probably repair more effectively than older people