Pediatric Symptom Onset of Multiple Sclerosis in Hispanic Patients

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is believed to be a disease that affects people mostly in their 30s-40s. However, pediatric cases have been reported. Early diagnosis of MS is fundamental for effective treatment and positive disease prognosis. Establishing that this disease is manifested at an early age is critical since there is currently no disease modifying therapy (DMT) approved for pediatric cases. Recent pediatric clinical trials show that there is a growing awareness of pediatric data. Consciousness can diminish misdiagnosis of MS in pediatric patients. Conditions such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and subacute combined degeneration can be commonly confused with this disease due to similar signs and symptoms.

Objectives: Estimate the prevalence of Hispanic patients whose symptom onset began at or before the age of 18.

Methods: Data provided by Puerto Rico (PR) MS Registry collected from self-reported questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze data set. PRMS Registry has 2904 enrolled patients out of which 1638 had the data required for use in this study.

Results: 173 (10.6%) of patients analyzed experienced their first symptom on or before the age of 18. Out of those 25 (14.5%) were under the age of 13 and 148 (85.5%) were between the ages of 13-18. 132 (76.3%) of the patients were female and 40 (30.3%) were male, sustaining that 3:1 ratio.

Conclusions: MS affects people between the ages to 30 and 40. However, this study shows that 10.6% of patients diagnosed with MS in PR experienced their first symptom on or before the age of 18, demonstrating that disease onset can start much earlier than previously expected. Understanding this fact will diminish misdiagnosis and allow for better treatment of these patients. It is therefore pertinent to perform pediatric DMTs studies so as to provide these patients with a better life expectancy.