ECTRIMS 2023 | Age and extreme of outcomes in MS: aggressive and benign course

Antonio Scalfari, MD, PhD, Imperial College London, London, UK, delves into a comprehensive analysis of the London Ontario database, capturing the natural progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) over an average of 28 years without disease-modifying treatments. A particular focus is given to “”young progressors,”” patients exhibiting progressive symptoms before the age of 33. This subgroup, alarmingly, displayed a rapid disability accumulation. A significant finding revealed that the time taken to reach the EDSS score of 3 since onset could reliably predict the disease’s tempo and progression likelihood. Conversely, “”old relapsers,”” those over 50 with relapsing-remitting symptoms, had a considerably milder disease progression. For them, reaching an EDSS score of 3 took significantly longer, suggesting a potential biomarker for identifying patients with a benign disease course. This critical insight can guide tailored treatment strategies based on early disease trajectory. This interview took place at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress 2023 in Milan, Italy.

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