[Degree of malignancy in multiple sclerosis: clinicopathologic mortality study]

Basing on the neuropathologic findings (acute, subacute resp. chronic demyelination) in 58 cases with multiple sclerosis (MS) the determination of the degree of defect in relation to the duration of working capacity and disability has been carried out in comparison with an index made up for progression and malignancy of the disease. In the final phase of illness an acute exacerbation was noteworthy from the morphological point of view in 48.3% of the patients; in these cases was established a hightened index of malignancy. Differences of sex distribution a. o. pointed to a longer lasting defective (chronic) stage in women. The assessment of progression after a five-year period of examination by a limiting malignancy-index allows a probable prognosis to the chances and the risk of the developing process of disease and may be of importance for care.