Multiple Sclerosis in China; A Clinical Study of 256 Cases

Abstract

AbstractDespite a low prevalence rate, cases of multiple sclerosis occur widely in China. A clinical study of 256 cases of multiple sclerosis collected in different parts of China is reported. There were 117 males and 139 females averaging 29.1 years of age. The onset was acute or subacute in 70.7%. Certain precipitating factors were present in 47.3% of the cases. The most frequent sites of the lesions based on the clinical symptomatology was optic nerve and spinal cord, the cerebellum was less frequently involved. A single site was affected during the first bout in 41%, most frequently the optic nerve. CSF examination revealed increased W.B.C. and protein content in approximately 50% of the patients. Increased IgG and oligoclonal bands were found in 11/14 and 5/10 respectively. Neurophysiological examinations and CT scan of some patients revealed abnormalities in certain cases. Remission and relspse were observed in 79.7%. 68% of the present series became motorly disabled within the period of observation varying from 7 weeks to 30 years; about 40% in less than 2 years. There were 19 deaths, 11 within 2 years after the onset of the disease. Similar to the observations in Japan and other Asian countries, multiple sclerosis in China has certain special clinical characteristics, namely a higher rate of optic nerve involvement, a higher rate of optic spinal type and a more rapidly progressive course in comparison with that Caucasian patients.Multiple sclerosis was considered a very rare disease in China early this century. Because of the better recognition and heightened awareness of the disease, series of cases have been reported in recent few years.1–6 The present paper is a clinical study of 256 cases observed in different districts of China, so as to illustrate the clinical characteristics of Chinese multiple sclerosis.