Table 1. Clinical, MRI and CSF characteristics of patients presenting with PS/US compared to CS.
| PS/US onset | CS onset | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 10 | 522 | |
| Clinical data | |||
| Female1 | 8 (80.0) | 386 (73.9) | 0.255a |
| Age at first symptom (years)2 | 32.1 (9.9) | 29.5 (8.9) | 0.369b |
| Follow-up (years)2 | 11.2 (5.3) | 11.4 (4.4) | 0.299c |
| Complete remission after 6 months1 | 9 (90) | 410 (78.5) | 0.337a |
| Brain MRI* | |||
| Time to MRI (days)2 | 37 (33.8) | 34 (29.7) | 0.232c |
| Number of T2 lesions3 | 9 (6–34) | 13 (6–23) | 0.128c |
| Number of CE lesions3 ** | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0.968c |
| Barkhof-Tintoré criteria fulfilled | 8 (80) | 409 (78.2) | 0.418a |
| CSF analysis | |||
| positive OCB | 10 (100%) | 469 (93.2)*** | 0.510a |
| Diagnosis at last follow-up | 0.209a | ||
| CIS | 1 (10) | 22 (4.2) | |
| RRMS | 8 (80) | 461 (88.3) | |
| SPMS | 1 (10) | 39 (7.5) | |
| DMT | |||
| DMT exposure prior to first relapse1 | 3 (30) | 322 (61.7) | 0.021a |
| DMT exposure during observation period1 | 6 (60) | 436 (83.5) | 0.033a |
| Time to DMT2 (years) | 2.9 (1.9) | 2.1 (1.5) | 0.172c |
| Time on DMT2 (years) | 4.8 (4.0) | 5.8 (6.9) | 0.486c |
| Disease course | |||
| Time to diagnosis (McDonald 2010) (years)2 | 2.2 (1.9) | 1.9 (2.2) | 0.459b |
| Time to first relapse (CDMS) | 2.2 (2.4) | 2.1 (2.3) | 0.972d |
| ARR during observation period2 | 0.19 (0.21) | 0.48 (0.31) | 0.003c |
| EDSS 10 years after onset4 | 1.5 (0–6) | 2.5 (0–8) | 0.105c |
1absolute number and percentage;
2mean and standard deviation;
3median and inter-quartile range;
4median and minimum-maximum range
*performed within 100 days after symptom onset.
**available from 473 patients.
*** available from 503 patients.
Analysed with:
a chi-square test,
b independent t-test.
c Mann-Whitney U test;
d Log-rank test
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; PS: paroxysmal symptom; US: unusual symptom; CS: classical bout onset; CIS: clinically isolated syndrome; RRMS: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; SPMS: secondary progressive multiple sclerosis; CE: contrast-enhancing; OCB: oligoclonal bands; DMT: disease modifying treatment; CDMS: clinically definite MS; ARR: annualized relapse rate; EDSS: expanded disability status scale.