Types of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Types of
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple Choice

What is the most common type of multiple sclerosis?

• Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)

• Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS)

• Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)

• Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)

Multiple Choice

What are the primary characteristics of Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)?

• Continuous worsening with no relapses

• Episodes of new or worsening symptoms followed by periods of remission

• Steady progression with occasional relapses

• One-time neurological episode

Relapsing-Remitting MS

Around 85% of people with multiple sclerosis are diagnosed with RRMS.
Characterised by episodes of new or worsening symptoms (relapses) followed by periods of partial or complete recovery (remissions).


https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/types-of-ms/relapsing-remitting-ms

Multiple Choice

How does Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) differ from Relapsing-Remitting MS?

• SPMS has continuous progression from the onset

• SPMS starts with relapses and remissions but becomes steadily progressive

• SPMS has no relapses, only steady progression

• SPMS is a one-time neurological episode

​How does Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) differ from Relapsing-Remitting MS?

SPMS starts with relapses and remissions but transitions to a steady progression of disability without relapses.

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/types-of-ms/secondary-progressive-ms

Multiple Choice

About __% of people with MS are diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)?

• 1-5%

• 5-10%

• 10-15%

• 15-20%

Multiple Choice

Describe the progression of Primary Progressive MS.

• Relapses followed by remissions

• One-time episode with no progression

• Starts with relapses, then steady progression

• Continuous worsening without initial relapses

​Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)

Primary progressive MS (PPMS) affects about 10-15% of people diagnosed with MS.
Primary Progressive MS (PPMS) is called this because from the first, or primary, symptoms it's progressive. It's usually diagnosed in people in their 40s.

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/types-of-ms/primary-progressive-ms

Multiple Choice

What is Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) and how is it related to MS?

• An initial episode that may or may not develop into MS

• A form with continuous relapses and remissions

• A form with steady progression from onset

• A progressive form of MS

Multiple Choice

Can Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) develop into a more definitive form of MS? If so, how often does this occur?

• Rarely, less than 10% of cases

• Occasionally, about 20% of cases

• Often, about 60-80% of cases

• Always, 100% of cases

​Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)

• CIS symptoms come on over a few days or weeks, then usually go away. To be classed as CIS symptoms, they must last for over 24 hours. They must be caused by inflammation to the nerves or damage to the myelin around them. And these symptoms must only happen once.

• Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) can develop into a more definitive form of MS in about 60-80% of cases, especially if MRI shows lesions typical of MS.
  
  
  https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/types-of-ms/clinically-isolated-syndrome-cis
  

Multiple Select

How does neurologist determine which type of MS a patient has? (You may choose more than 1 answer.)

• genetic testing for MS-related genes

• results of an Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

• blood test

• patterns of a patient's symptoms

Neurologist determines type of MS will largely be based on...

• understanding the pattern of the symptoms – such as whether a patient experiences periods when symptoms get worse (relapses) then improve (remissions), or whether they get steadily worse (progress)

• the results of an MRI scan – such as whether there's evidence that lesions in a patient's nervous system have developed at different times and at different places in their body

• It can take a few years to make an accurate diagnosis of progressive MS because the condition usually worsens slowly
  
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/diagnosis/