Pattern of Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis in Saudi Arabia: Analysis Based on Clinical and Paraclinical Features

Abstract

We studied 89 MS patients comprising 38 males and 51 females seen over a 10-year period. The hospital frequency was 25/100,000 patients. The diagnosis was mainly clinical and was supported by neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neurophysiological tests. Sixty-five patients (73%) were Saudis and the peak age of onset was in the third decade. Fifty-two patients (58.4%) had clinically definite MS, 17 (19.1%) had laboratory-supported definite MS, 15 (16.9%) were clinically probable MS cases and the remaining 5 (5.6%) had laboratory-supported probable MS. The mean age at onset of Saudi patients (25.9 years) was lower than that of the non-Saudis (29.4 years; p < 0.001). Involvement of the pyramidal system was the commonest mode of presentation. The clinical course was relapsing-remitting in 60.7%, progressive-relapsing in 20.2% and primary progressive in 19.1%. The number of systems involved was significantly associated with the duration of disease (p < 0.001). The demographic features and the variability of clinical presentation of Saudi MS patients is similar to the results from neighbouring countries. Combination of clinical features and paraclinical tests is essential for accurate determination of extent of dissemination and for unmasking clinically silent lesions.

The Pattern of First Multiple Sclerosis Presentation in Patients Attending King Khalid University Hospital (2000-2012)

“…[5] In the study of 1998 in Saudi Arabia, it was found that Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis have an earlier onset of the disease with a mean age of 25.9 years compared to 29.4 for the non-Saudis. [4] In our study, the number of non-Saudi patients was very limited as they were 9 out of the total 204 patients which only represent 4.4% of the study population while in the previous study the percentage of non-Saudis was considerably higher (27%). [4] Many facts regarding multiple sclerosis are not fully understood and many studies had been done which, in most of the cases, yielded different results.…”

“…It was found that the age of onset was similar to that obtained in the latest study conducted in Saudi Arabia. [4] Most patients diagnosed with the disease were in their twenties comprising 45.6 % and the mean age of diagnosis was 27.16 ±7.74 years while the previous study reported a mean age of 27.7 ±7.8 years. [4] Therefore, it is clear that there hasn't been a noticeable change in the age at presentation of multiple sclerosis patients in Saudi Arabia over the period from 1998 until 2012.…”

“…[4] Most patients diagnosed with the disease were in their twenties comprising 45.6 % and the mean age of diagnosis was 27.16 ±7.74 years while the previous study reported a mean age of 27.7 ±7.8 years. [4] Therefore, it is clear that there hasn't been a noticeable change in the age at presentation of multiple sclerosis patients in Saudi Arabia over the period from 1998 until 2012. The age at symptoms' onset is considered relatively early when compared to results found in similar European studies.…”

“…The clinical course was relapsing-remitting in 60.7% of the cases. [4] The aim of our study is to describe the pattern of first presentation of Multiple Sclerosis patients attending King Khalid University Hospital and to display the age of onset and gender distribution among them (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012). There is a need to know the recent pattern of the disease since the last available local study regarding Multiple Sclerosis was done about 17 years ago.…”

“…There is a need to know the recent pattern of the disease since the last available local study regarding Multiple Sclerosis was done about 17 years ago. [4] …”