Clinical Presentations of Multiple Sclerosis at Royal Commission Hospital Yanbu Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an important cause of long standing disability especially in adult females. The incidence is more in Europe. In Europe specially in USA and UK the prevalence is about 120/ 100,000. The annual incidence is around 7 per 100,000, while the life time risk of developing MS is about 1in 400. The incidence of MS is higher in northern Europeans, and the disease is about twice as common in females. Objectives: To study various ways the patients of multiple sclerosis presented in the department of neurology atObjectives: To study various ways the patients of multiple sclerosis presented in the department of neurology at Royal commission hospital Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods: This is new as well newly diagnosed patients who presented in the emergency as well as outpatient department of neurology at Royal Commission hospital Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yanbu is one of the biggest industrial city of Saudi Arabia. Duration of study was two years; from January 2011 to December 2012. The study included 50 patients. We diagnosed 45 patients ourselves and 5 patients were following in the neurology OPD.Results: The age range was 17 – 58; 38 patients were females and 2 were males. Most of the affected patients were in the age range of 17 – 36. Mean duration of illness was from 1 – 9 years. In most of the patients, the initial presentation was weakness and visual loss. Most of the patients were started on interferons and they has very good outcome.Conclusions: Multiple sclerosis involves both brain and spinal cord. Early diagnosis and treatment promises good outcome and rehabilitation. The new treatment modalities have played revolutionary role in modulating the disease. Abbreviations: MS = Multiple sclerosis