Clinical features and clinical course of multiple sclerosis in Thai patients: a report of 50 cases

During a twenty-year period 1967-1986, clinical features and clinical course of 50 patients with proved (in 3), clinically definite (in 32), early probable (in 13) and suspected (in 2) cases of multiple sclerosis were studied. Certain clinical characteristics in Thai patients are noteworthy, namely, a higher female to male ratio (4:1), a higher rate of optic nerve involvement (76%), and lower rate of brain stem involvement (30%) and cerebellar involvement (10%) during the course of illness in contrast to those of Western series. Painful tonic seizure was a prominent feature in Thai patients with multiple sclerosis (22/50 or 44%). Thirty out of 50 patients could be traced. Ten patients had died (33%) from the disease after 1-21 years with a mean of 8.08 years. Twenty patients (66%) were still alive. The follow-up period was 2-12 years with an average of 6.65 years. Among the twenty, 3 were bed-ridden, 3 were chair-bound and 5 had restricted activities. Nine patients (30%) were still working fully.