title: [Pediatric multiple sclerosis: is it different from the adult form?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is not uncommon in children. The aim of this study was to compare early onset MS (EOMS) with adult onset MS (AOMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study including MS cases between 1997 and 2010. EOMS was defined by age at MS onset<18years. Data were collected using the EDMUS database (European Database of Multiple Sclerosis) including: sex, age at onset, disease duration, EDSS, score after relapse. The MSSS and the Progression Index were calculated. Patients with disease duration less than one year were excluded. MS symptoms at onset and at further relapses were also noted. These parameters were compared between the EOMS and the AOMS groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred fifty-nine cases were included including 31 EOMS (11.96%). The mean follow-up was 96months. The relapsing-remittent form was significantly more frequent in the pediatric group (94% vs 79%). Mean EDSS and MSSS scores and the percentage of fast progressors (MSSS>5) were lower in the EOMS group. Analysis of neurological symptoms at the first MS attack and further neurological events showed a lower frequency of gait disturbances, motor symptoms and bladder symptoms in the EOMS group compared with the AOMS group. The 10-year mean EDSS score was 1.9 for EOMS and 4.1 for AOMS, after 25years it was 4.5, and 7.27 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the relative frequency of EOMS in our MS population. However, different severity scores showed less disability progression in EOMS patients compared with AOMS patient; irreversible disability was reached at an early age.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc; Laboratoire de génétique et de pathologie moléculaire, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie de Casablanca, université Hassan 2, avenue Hasan II, BP 150, Mohammedia Casablanca, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc. Electronic address: adilaraqi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araqi-Houssaini
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dany
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sekkat
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hazim
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Midafi
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elotmani
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc; Laboratoire de génétique et de pathologie moléculaire, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie de Casablanca, université Hassan 2, avenue Hasan II, BP 150, Mohammedia Casablanca, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Moutawakil
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rafai
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU Ibn Rochd, quartier des Hôpitaux, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc; Laboratoire de génétique et de pathologie moléculaire, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie de Casablanca, université Hassan 2, avenue Hasan II, BP 150, Mohammedia Casablanca, 20000 Casablanca, Maroc.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Slassi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Children; EDSS; Enfant; MSSS; Multiple sclerosis; Sclérose en plaques; Severity; Sévérité