title: Onset symptoms in paediatric multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) carries a relatively higher mortality and morbidity than adult MS. Paediatric MS symptoms and paraclinical findings at the first demyelinating event have never before been characterised in a Danish setting. The aim of this study was to compare symptoms and paraclinical findings at the first demyelinating event in paediatric MS with those of an adult MS population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 18 subjects with onset of MS relapse before 16 years of age were retrospectively included in the study. Case records were reviewed for symptoms at disease onset, cerebrospinal fluid findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evoked potentials at the first demyelinating event. These data were compared with similar nationwide data from adults in Denmark.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age was 14 (range 10-15) years at the first demyelinating event and the mean time to MS diagnosis was 1.7 years. The majority of children had sensory symptoms (47%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 23-72%) or optic neuritis (35%; CI: 14-62%) as their presenting symptoms. These results did not differ from the findings in adult MS subjects. Pleocytosis was present in 93% (CI: 66-100%) of paediatric MS subjects, 77% (CI: 46-95%) had an elevated IgG index and 85% (CI: 55-98%) had oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid. MRI showed characteristic white matter lesions in all children (CI: 80-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS symptoms at the first demyelinating event and diagnostic delay in paediatric MS subjects do not differ significantly from those seen in an adult MS population.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors.affiliation: Dansk Multipel Sclerose Center, Neurologisk Klinik N2082, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. magnus_boesen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Magnus Spangsberg
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Boesen
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sellebjerg
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blinkenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007964:Leukocytosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies