title: Multiple sclerosis: clinical characteristics and disability progression in Moroccan children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  5% of multiple sclerosis have their onset in childhood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aim to show the clinical features and follow-up of Moroccan pediatric MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 pediatric MS records were analyzed between 2005 and 2013 at the Neurology B department of Rabat Ibn sina University Hospital and Medical School Group of Neurogenetic Disorder of Rabat Mohammed V University Souissi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median duration of follow up was 4 years [1.56]. The median age at disease onset was 14 years. Clinical symptoms were described. At the last evaluation, the median EDSS score was 3.0 [0-7.5]. The median time between disease onset and diagnosis was 2 years [1-9] and the median time from MS onset to second neurological episode was 1 year [0.9-3] with an average of 2 relapses in the first 2 years. The median time to reach EDSS 3.0 was 4.5 years [2-17] and the median time to go from EDSS 3.0 to 6.0 was 4 years [2.5-6]. The majority of cases at the last follow-up were; relapsing-remitting (17 patients: 68%), although 8 patients (32%) developed secondary progressive MS after median disease duration of 5 years [4-19]. None of the patients had a primary progressive MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time EDSS 3.0 and to secondary progression was shorter in our cohort than previously reported in other series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology B and Neurogenetics, Hôpital des Spécialités Rabat, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco; Medical Center of Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Study (CRECET), Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: e.benhaddou@um5s.net.ma.
authors.forename: Elhachmia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ait Ben Haddou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology B and Neurogenetics, Hôpital des Spécialités Rabat, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: mounia2117@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alhyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology B and Neurogenetics, Hôpital des Spécialités Rabat, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: jehanne.aasfara@um5s.net.ma.
authors.forename: Jehanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aasfara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology B and Neurogenetics, Hôpital des Spécialités Rabat, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: wafareg@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Regragui
authors.affiliation: Biotech Lab. (MedBiotech), Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: a.ibrahimi@um5s.net.ma.
authors.forename: Azeddine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibrahimi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiological Research (LBRCE), Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco; Laboratoire de santé publique, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: razinerachid@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Razine
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiological Research (LBRCE), Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: r.abouqal@um5s.net.ma.
authors.forename: Redouane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abouqal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology B and Neurogenetics, Hôpital des Spécialités Rabat, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco; Medical Center of Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Study (CRECET), Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: a.benomar@yum5s.net.ma.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benomar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology B and Neurogenetics, Hôpital des Spécialités Rabat, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Rabat, Mohammed V University Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: m.yahyaoui@um5s.net.ma.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yahyaoui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age of onset; Children; Clinical features; Multiple sclerosis; Outcome measurement; Treatment