title: A retrospective review of patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an uncommon disease in Singapore. We retrospectively reviewed our experience from a large single medical institution to identify prominent clinical features and forms of this disease. Of the 21 patients entered into the study, 10 patients developed optic-spinal symptoms over the course of their illness. None of these patients with optic-spinal symptoms had Devic's disease. Unusual clinical manifestations included paroxysmal symptoms either at presentation or during the course of their illness in 3 patients. While cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands were present in only 4 patients, the majority of patients had abnormal neurophysiology and neuroimaging studies. Due to the presence of autoimmune markers in a significant number of cases, we recommend that as part of the initial evaluation for MS, an underlying collagen vascular disorder should be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Puvanendran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001259:Ataxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012846:Singapore; D013035:Spasm / Q000503:physiopathology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers