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Published on: December 9, 2015
Clinical outcome of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis among Hong Kong Chinese
K H Chan1, K L Tsang, P W L Ho
1University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. koonhochan@hotmail.com
Background:
Clinical outcome of Chinese relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients is uncertain.
Aim:
To study the long-term clinical outcome of Chinese RRMS patients.
Method:
RRMS patients with duration of 10 years or longer followed up in our hospital is retrospectively studied.
Results:
61 RRMS patients (75% female) were studied. Their mean symptom onset age was 25.9 years and mean duration was 20.6 years (range 10-33); 36% patients had received β-interferon and 30% azathioprine. Their mean EDSS scores were 3.3 (range 1-7) and 4.7 (range 1-8) at 10 years and latest follow-up (mean duration 20.6 years) respectively. At 10 years, 30% patients had EDSS score ≤2, 34% EDSS 2.5-3.5, 20% EDSS 4.0-5.5 and 16% ≥6; 18% developed SPMS. At latest follow-up, 15% patients had EDSS ≤2, 20% EDSS 2.5-3.5, 19% EDSS 4.0-5.5 and 46% ≥6.0; 53% developed SPMS. The median time from symptom onset to EDSS 6 was 22 years. No differences were detected in demographic characteristics, presenting neurological features, number of attacks in first 2 years, neuroradiological findings and disease modifying therapies between patients with EDSS <6 and ≥6 at ten years. EDSS scores at 10 years and latest follow-up were similar for patients who had received β-interferon and those who had not.
Conclusion:
Hong Kong Chinese RRMS patients may have worse long-term clinical outcome than Caucasian patients.
