title: A retrospective study of multiple sclerosis in Siriraj Hospital, Bankok, Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the demographic and clinical data of Thai multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 72 patients attending the MS clinic at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand between January 1997 and June 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight patients (81%) were classified as clinically definite MS, 5 (7%) as Devic's syndrome, and 9 (13%) as possible MS. There were 62 females (86%) and 10 males (14%). Age at onset was 33 +/- 12 years with a mean relapse rate of 1.2 +/- 1.0 attacks per annum. None had a family history of MS. Visual impairment (53%) was the most common manifestation. Only 16% had classic (western) form of MS. Positive oligoclonal bands were found in 21%, visual evoked potentials with a typical delayed latency in 28%. MRI brain lesions compatible with McDonald's criteria were seen in only 24%, and spinal MRI brain longer than 2 vertebral bodies in 62%. The mean Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was 3.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thai MS patients had much more female occurrence, no family history, common optico-spinal form, long spinal MRI lesions and low positive CSF oligoclonal bands.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Prannok Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sasitorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siritho
authors.forename: Naraporn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prayoonwiwat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000276:immunology; D009902:Optic Neuritis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D013256:Steroids