Clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis in Lebanon

The epidemiologic, clinical, radiological and laboratory characterization of multiple sclerosis (MS) is very well documented in Caucasian and Japanese populations, but very little is known about MS in the Arab world. Such knowledge is becoming of paramount importance, with the recent advances in therapies, MRI techniques and other diagnostic procedures. We report a cohort of Lebanese MS patients, including details of their clinical and laboratory characteristics. The medical records of 202 patients fulfilling the Mc Donald's diagnostic criteria, and followed in our tertiary care center were reviewed. This cohort is highly representative of the disease in Lebanon where the number of MS patients is estimated to be between 1200 and 1700. The peak age of onset of MS in our cohort was in the third decade with 62.4% of patients developing their first symptoms between 20 and 39 years. The female/male ratio was 1.8/1.0. A positive family history for MS was present in 5% of patients. The most frequent presenting symptoms were brainstem-cerebellar (46.2%) followed by sensory (42.5%), motor (33.9%) and visual (29.6%). Of the total number of patients, 85.1% had relapsing remitting MS at onset, and 7.9% primary progressive MS. Benign MS defined as EDSS<=2.0 after 10 years from onset was present in 20% of patients. The mean time from onset to secondary progressive MS was around 9 years. Visual, brainstem, and somatosensory evoked potentials were abnormal in 65.6%, 27.8%, and 50.7% of patients tested respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis in 32.6%, increased IgG synthesis in 45.2%, positive oligoclonal bands in 40%, and elevated protein in 34% of patients tested. Although some of the clinical characteristics of our MS population were different compared to western series, the natural history of the disease was similar.