Paediatric-onset MS patients demonstrate higher relapse rates than adult-onset MS patients in the first year of the disease [2]. Moreover, treatment with high-efficacy DMTs potentially slow down disease progression in this population [3]. This study aimed to identify early predictors of paediatric-onset MS, to aid decision-makers in the initiation of high-efficacy DMTs. In total, 672 patients < 18 years at symptom onset were followed via biennial visitations.
Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) and Expanded Disease Status Scale (EDSS) worsening were the outcome measures of interest. Dr Sifat Sharmin (University of Melbourne, Australia) presented the late-breaking results. Older age at MS onset (OR 1.09), high EDSS score during the first 12 months of the disease (OR 1.25), relapse frequency (OR 1.09), greater number of relapses without complete recovery (OR 1.16), and the presence of pyramidal (OR 1.34), visual (OR 1.28), or cerebellar symptoms (OR 1.17) were significantly associated with MSSS worsening.
Longer duration of high-efficacy DMT treatment (OR 0.96), complete recovery from first relapse (OR 0.78), and brainstem relapse (OR 0.79) demonstrated a protective effect.