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

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. In Saudi Arabia, there are no recent studies describing the pattern of the disease. Therefore, this study aims to describe the epidemiological pattern of multiple sclerosis and the most frequently encountered clinical manifestations of the disease. Methodology: All data were extracted by using questionnaires completed through reviewing all patients' medical record of all cases of MS that were admitted to KKUH between 2000 and 2012. Mean, standard deviation and Chi square were used for results presentation. Results: Among all patients, females were much more affected than males as they comprised 75.5% while males were 24.5%.The majority of patients were in their twenties and the mean age was 27.16 ±7.74 years. Most of the patients presented complaining of limb weakness (69.6%) followed by numbness (56.9%) then visual manifestations (47.5%). Conclusion: The majority of patients were females and the most frequently diagnosed age group was between 20 and 29 years old. Limb weakness was the most commonly experienced symptom among the patients followed by numbness then visual manifestations.