Types of Multiple Sclerosis
Topic Overview
Generally,
multiple sclerosis (MS) follows one of four
courses:
- Relapsing-remitting, where you have
alternating periods of active disease when symptoms flare up and periods when
symptoms fade. This cycle can occur for many years. The disease does not
advance during the remissions.
- Secondary progressive, where active symptoms of MS become steadily progressive,
with ongoing damage to the
central nervous system. Symptoms usually get worse as
the disease progresses.
- Primary progressive is where the disease is progressive from the start, although
damage to the central nervous system occurs at different rates in different
people. This course of MS is not very common.
- Progressive relapsing, which is a rare course of MS
that causes steady damage to nerves when symptoms first appear and continues to
cause damage to the central nervous system even when you are not experiencing
symptoms.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
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| Last Revised | April 15, 2010 |
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Last Revised:
April 15, 2010
