Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis in Korea

Kim, Hun Min; Kim, Seung Hyo; Lee, Jin Sook; Park, Soo Yeon; Hwang, Hee; Chae, Jong Hee; Choi, Ji Eun; Kim, Ki Joong; Hwang, Yong Seung

Abstract

PURPOSE
Multiple sclerosis(MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder causing significant neurological impairment in early adulthood. Since 1980, childhood MS has increased and the characteristics of childhood MS has been reported. For investigation of the clinical characteristics of childhood MS in Korea, we reviewed clinical presentations, paraclinical features, prognosis, and responses to interferone treatment of childhood MS patients.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who have been diagnosed as MS according to McDonald criteria in Seoul National University Children's Hospital. 13 patients(M:F=6:7) were included in the study from 1988 to 2005.
RESULTS
The age of onset was 1-12 years-old(mean 7.1) and the duration from initial presentation to 1st relapse was 3-27 months(mean 10.3). Initial presenting symptoms were motor disturbance, visual disturbance, bladder dysfunction, fever, brainstem dysfunction, headache and encephalitis-like-symptoms. All patients were treated with corticosteroids and 8 patients were on interferone-alpha treatment. EDSS score were 0-10(mean 1.8).
CONCLUSION
The clinical characteristics of childhood MS were similar to the result from other studies in Korea, Japan, and eastern countries. Increasing number of childhood MS in Korea reflects the change of the environmental susceptibility to MS in Korean pediatric population. Interferone-alpha therapy can be considered as safe and effective treatment for modulating the clinical course of MS.