Multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia

There are indications of increasing incidence of MS in Saudi Arabia. Of 806 neurology inpatients, 16 had MS, 21 myasthenia gravis, and 10 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with a ratio of 1:1.3:0.6, respectively. The symptomatology and site of lesions are similar to that seen in the West, but the course and evolution might be different. The main course was remissions and relapses but without transformation to chronic progressive disease, and the main disability was partial or complete bilateral visual loss, seen in 19% of the patients.