Multiple sclerosis outcome and morbi-mortality of a Brazilian cohort patients

Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon, Fabíola Rachid Malfetano, Maria Lucia Veluttini Pimentel, Claudio Luiz Duque Estrada, Valéria Coelho Santa Rita Pereira, Assuncíon Martinez Liem, Sérgio Augusto Pereira Novis

We studied the clinical and evolution characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients followed since the onset of HUCFF/UFRJ in 1978. The diagnosis of MS was based on Poser's et al. and MC Donald's et al. criteria. From 188 patients, 122 were included. Eighty-five were females. The mean age onset was 32.2 years-old (range 6.0 to 61.0+/-10.3), mainly Caucasians (82/67%). The relapsing-remitting course (MSRR) was more frequent (106/86.8%). Monosymptomatic onset was significantly more frequent in Caucasians than in Afro-Brazilians (p<0.05). Seventeen patients had benign form of MS and these patients presented association with MSRR when compared with severe form (p=0.01). The mortality rate was 2.12% (4 patients died). This study was similar to other Brazilian series with regard to sex and age, and lack of correlation between EDSS and number of relapses; it confirmed south-southeast African-descendants gradient distribution and association between first mono-symptomatic relapses and Caucasian; we found lower frequency of benign forms.