Early Onset Multiple Sclerosis: More Emphasis on Early Treatment

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated neurodegenerative disorder of the human central nervous system (CNS) that typically affects young adults. This enigmatic and destructive disorder of both white matter and gray matter of CNS affects individuals with predisposing genetic background and probably requires a provoking environmental factor, such as exposure to a viral agent, to initiate the disease process [[1], [2], [3]]. In the United States, MS is the leading cause of neurological disability in young individuals. Clinically, MS most often follows a relapsing-remitting course during which patients experience various clinical symptoms, usually followed by periods of remission. The neuropathogenesis of MS consists of two parallel destructive arms: inflammatory demyelination and neurodegeneration. During the last two decades, we have learned much about both aspects of the pathogenesis of MS. This expansion of our knowledge had led to development of immunomodulatory agents for more effective management of this previously untreatable disease.