Benign MS

Acta Neurol Scand. 2010 Jul;122(s190):44-50.

Benign multiple sclerosis: a need for a consensus.

Glad SB, Aarseth JH, Nyland H, Riise T, Myhr KM.

The Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Competence Centre, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Objectives - To investigate the impact of different definitions on the frequency of benign multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients with a long follow-up, and to study the presence of non-motor symptoms and employment across the definitions.

Materials and methods - All patients alive (n = 188) with disease onset during 1976-1986 in Hordaland County, Norway, were clinically examined including the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in 2003. Non-motor symptoms which included depression, cognitive impairment, fatigue and pain, and employment status were also registered. Three definitions of benign MS were used based on the following EDSS cut-off values: 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0. Two additional definitions were added using an EDSS </=4.0 and incorporating either full-time or full- and part-time employment status.

Results - The frequency of benign MS increased from 14.5% for EDSS </=2.0 to 40.8% for EDSS </=4.0, but was only 12.3% for the definition based on full-time employment. Patients with an EDSS </=2.0 had markedly less non-motor symptoms and lower unemployment rates than the other groups.

Conclusions - An EDSS score </=2.0 with at least 10 years of disease duration seems to be the most appropriate criterion in identifying patients with benign MS.

PMID: 20586735 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

I think a disability score of 2 or under after ten years of disease shows a very mild course of MS. The majority of MSers have some problem after ten years.

Ideal for a survey.

Where are you on the EDSS and how long have you had MS?

I will start.

I have MS just over 12 years. I last saw my neuro in October and at that point I was EDSS 3. Nothing has changed since then so I guess I am still a 3.

It is 8 years since my diagnosis. I am EDSS 2 in remission.

Six years since diagnosis and I had symptoms maybe a year before that but it is not confirmed that was MS. So I will stick with six years.

Last time my neuro mentioned EDSS was in January of this year and he put me me at a 3. I was in remission at that time. During relapse I have gone right up to 6 but bounced back when I got remission.

It was 13 years since diagnosis this last Easter. My neuro tells me that I am a 1 on the EDSS. He reaches the 1 because I show some hyperreflexia on my right side. He also cracked a joke that he could not call me a ZERO EDSS when I have a full diagnosis and so he put me as a 1.

I am such a veteran of this dread disease.

I have MS for 22 years now and I am a 4.5 on the EDSS. Most of my permanent damage is from attacks in the first five years. I relapsed a lot in that period.

Female. RRMS for 11 years. I am EDSS 4.

Diagnosed 7 years ago. I had severe eye pain and blurred vistion 2 years before that which was probably ON.

I am currently in remission and EDSS 3.

10 years next month. Still RRMS. EDSS 2.5.

RRMS 11 years EDSS is steady at 3.5.

Five years since my first symptoms. My neurologist told me I am a 2 on the disability scale.

I have no idea of my EDSS. My only permanent symptoms are burning pain in my left leg and reduced visual acuity in my right eye.