Multiple sclerosis in Belgian children: A multicentre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Although the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the paediatric population remains challenging, paediatric-onset MS is increasingly recognized worldwide.

METHODS: We report on the clinical and biochemical features of a Belgian multicentre cohort of paediatric MS patients in a national retrospective descriptive study.

RESULTS: Twenty one paediatric MS patients from four Belgian University Hospitals were included. In nine patients, onset of MS was before the age of ten years which makes the study cohort of special interest. We report a higher incidence of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)-like first MS attacks and an overall higher proportion of polysymptomatic episodes than in adult and most paediatric cohorts reported in the literature. The clinical presentation in our cohort was rather severe with high median EDSS-score during the first clinical manifestation and barely more than half of our study patients showing full recovery after their first clinical manifestation. Also, a significant proportion of children in our cohort has severe disease progression despite disease modifying therapy and 9.5% of patients showed transition to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis during adolescence.

CONCLUSION: An early and correct diagnosis of paediatric MS is essential to start early adequate treatment. As illustrated by our study cohort, current treatment options in childhood are unsatisfactory.