[Various forms in the course of multiple sclerosis]

In a multicentre study the data of 2057 patients with multiple sclerosis were recorded and analysed in respect to the different courses. The remitting form begins at earlier age with a higher frequency of sensitivity disturbances, optic neuritis and other cranial nerve disturbances whereas the chronic progressive process starts with spastic pareses and sphincter disturbances in a higher percentage of cases. During the further course these differences persist. With the beginning of a chronic progression the prognosis is unfavorable whether the process started with bouts or with progression from onset. 22% of the cases have a benign course (increase of not more than 1 degree of disability during a 5-year-period). In an epidemiological material the percentage of benign cases is at least one third. Except of the above statements the clinical symptomatology could not be correlated to the prognosis.