Types of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
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The
Different Types of Multiple Sclerosis
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Benign Multiple Sclerosis is a highly misleading term since
it implies that the course and severity of Multiple Sclerosis will
be slight. While this may initially be true, over time this form of
the disease can often be as disabling as any other; indeed of the
20% of patients who are initially diagnosed with Benign Multiple
Sclerosis, only around 5% actually fall into this category.
A
patient who has benign multiple sclerosis can expect to show little
or no progression after the initial attack. Generally, they remain
fully functional although they can experience cognitive dysfunction,
short-term memory problems and upon MRI examination, may also show
clear clinical evidence of brain or spinal cord atrophy. |
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Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (rrms) is the most
common form of the disease. The title can also be misleading.
During this form of the disease, patients tend to experience an
attack or series of attacks (exacerbations) followed by complete or
partial remission.
This is where the title, relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
(rrms), can prove misleading.
Patients often assume that the remission stage of the
disease will mean 100% recovery. While this can be true,
particularly during the early stages of the disease, often the
remission will only be a partial one, particularly as the disease
progresses, thus leaving the patient with residual, usually
permanent, symptoms. |
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Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (spms) begins with
relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (rrms).
The
relapsing remitting (rrms) stage of the disease may persist for many
years before the onset of secondary progressive ms.
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is a second-stage,
chronic, progressive form of the disease where, unlike the
relapsing remitting (rrms)
stage, there are no real periods of remission, only breaks in attack
duration with no real recovery from symptoms although there may be
minor relief from some. |
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Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS) is most
commonly found in men. It is characterized by gradual clinical
decline with no real or distinct periods of remission. There may be
temporary periods where the disease appears to plateau, or level
out, and this may include some partial, yet minor, relief from some
symptoms, however the course of the disease is one of continual
decline from the outset.
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Progressive Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS) is a rarer
form of multiple sclerosis where the disease takes a progressive
form from the outset with acute attacks throughout and no relief
from accumulated symptoms.
Unlike Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis,
Progressive
Relapsing MS does not 'plateau'. |
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Malignant Multiple Sclerosis, also known as Marburg
Variant Multiple Sclerosis, is a particularly aggressive form of
the disease. Thankfully very rare, this highly aggressive form is
defined by its swift and relentless decline to significant
disability or even death, often within a few weeks or months after
the onset of the initial attack. |
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Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis is included here for
information purposes.
Chronic Progressive MS is not a definite type of Multiple
Sclerosis but rather a term sometimes used by physicians to lump
together the forms;
Secondary Progressive MS,
Primary Progressive MS or
Progressive Relapsing MS. |
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