Multiple sclerosis is one of the complex diseases that has become very much in the spotlight in recent times, so we will help you to know the necessary and necessary information about this disease, including the common and rare types of multiple sclerosis and how to differentiate between them, their definition and other information, so be sure to follow up.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy tissue, as well as viruses or bacteria.

In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath (myelin allows nerves to conduct electrical signals) that surrounds and protects nerve fibers, causing inflammation. Multiple sclerosis means scar tissue in multiple places.

Multiple sclerosis types

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the main types of multiple sclerosis include 4 types, and they are as follows:

1- Clinically Isolated Syndrome

Clinical Isolation Syndrome, or CIS, is somewhat considered a pre-multiple sclerosis diagnosis, and this type is diagnosed if the patient has:

• A single episode with symptoms similar to those of multiple sclerosis lasting 24 hours or longer.
• Symptoms not related to any infection, inflammation, fever or any other illness.
• Symptoms due to inflammation of the central nervous system or demyelination/demyelination.

Some people with this type of multiple sclerosis do not experience another episode of symptoms, and if there is no lesion or damage during the MRI examination, this reduces the patient’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis, but if there are any lesions during the examination, it increases This increases the risk of the patient having another episode of this syndrome and being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

In an isolated clinical syndrome, one of the following is likely to occur:

• The esophagus has only one attack, it is an isolated attack, it does not recur and the person does not develop multiple sclerosis (36% within 10 years).
• A person develops another type of multiple sclerosis known as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (PRMS) (48% within 10 years).
• A person develops PRMS that progresses to SPMS (by 15% within 10 years).

2- Relapsing-remitting MS

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is the most common type of MS, with approximately 80 to 85% of cases initially diagnosed with this type. This type is accompanied or defined by specific attacks or episodes of new or previous symptoms of increased severity, separated by partial or complete periods of recovery (remission).

All symptoms may disappear during periods of remission, or some symptoms may persist and others disappear, and there is no indication that the disease becomes more severe during these periods. It is worth noting that most of the diagnosed cases of this type range in age from 20 to 40 years, and the most prominent symptoms include the following:

• Tired.
• numbness;
• vision problems;
• Muscle stiffness or spasm.
• Bowel and bladder problems.
• Cognitive problems that affect the ability to learn, memory, and how information is processed in the brain.

3- Secondary Progressive MS

Some people with PRMS eventually develop SPMS (the rate of conversion to this type increases to 60% if PRMS is not treated), and this type of MS gets progressively worse, even with periods of recovery or The calm that the patient may experience.

Some people with SPMS go on to have attacks or periods of recovery, but not all, and recovery periods tend to have more symptoms than those experienced during PRMS. More than two-thirds of people with SPMS retain the ability to walk, but others need to use aids or devices such as a crutch or walker.

4- Primary Progressive MS

PPMS involves poor progression or worsening of the disease, and this type generally involves more damage to the spinal cord and less damage to the brain. Symptoms of PPMS tend to be more movement-related than the other three types, due to progressive degeneration of the spinal cord as the disease progresses. During this type, the following occurs:

• Imbalance and lack of muscle coordination.
• A jerky gait, with stiffness and tremors in the legs.
• Weakness or lack of movement on one side of the body.
• Impairment of sexual function and bowel and bladder movement.

Rare types of multiple sclerosis

In addition to the well-known types of multiple sclerosis previously mentioned, there are some rare types, some of which are disputed as not being one of the main types, but they should also be mentioned. It includes the following:

• Progressive-relapsing MS: The severity and symptoms of this type gradually increase from the onset of the disease, with the possibility of more severe attacks of symptoms.
• Marburg MS: This type progresses very quickly, with violent or severe seizures or attacks during the first five years. People with this type need more progressive treatment than other types.
• Inactive or benign MS: With this type, the disease changes little or no change for up to 15 years, but this type may become active again. This is one of the types whose definition and diagnosis differs by doctors and experts.
• Balo disease: This is a rare and very advanced type of multiple sclerosis, which can cause significant damage to the brain and spinal cord, and this type can progress quickly and violently.
• Radiologically isolated syndrome: Another possible condition is pre-MS, which is recognized when an MRI shows evidence of multiple sclerosis lesions or damage, but a person has no symptoms. Many people with this condition progress to multiple sclerosis later on.