Conditions & Diseases: Brain & Nervous System

Multiple Sclerosis

See Also:
Multiple Sclerosis: Introduction
Multiple Sclerosis: Types
Multiple Sclerosis: Causes & Risk Factors
Multiple Sclerosis: Signs & Symptoms
Multiple Sclerosis: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Multiple Sclerosis: Treatment Options

Types of Multiple Sclerosis

There are 4 types of Multiple Sclerosis which include:

1. Benign Multiple Sclerosis: This type starts with a small number of mild attacks followed by complete recovery.

2. Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: About 12% of MS cases are of this type. Relapse and remission patterns are not observed in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis but the symptoms gradually develop and worsen over a period of time.

3. Relapsing Remitting Type: This is one of the most common types with about 80% of patients suffering from relapse remitting MS. In this type, a patient has flare ups of symptoms (relapse) followed by periods of recovery (remissions) which are unpredictable and with unclear causes. The relapses and remissions can last for days, weeks or months and vary from mild to severe.

4. Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Initially, most of the patients start with relapsing-remitting type MS and later develop this form. Approximately 50% of MS patients develop secondary progressive MS during first the 10 years. The disability does not fade away after a relapse, but progressively worsens between attacks or cycle of attacks followed by remission and is replaced by a steady progression of disability (5).

See Also:
Multiple Sclerosis: Introduction
Multiple Sclerosis: Types
Multiple Sclerosis: Causes & Risk Factors
Multiple Sclerosis: Signs & Symptoms
Multiple Sclerosis: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Multiple Sclerosis: Treatment Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com