Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It has been well known in the West since its first description by Charcot in 1868. In India, the disease came to be recognized only in the 1960s when physicians who received training in Neurology in the West, returned to India. Baldev Singh, Bharucha and Ramamurthy were the ones who first described the manifestations of MS in Indian context.
There are a large number of identifiable motor neuron diseases and demyelinating diseases. Among the most common diseases of these types is MS. Multiple sclerosis(MS) is a frequent and disabling neurological disease characterized by multifocal destruction of central nervous system myelin.
Myelin is a series of concentric membranes surrounding an axon like insulation surrounding a wire. The myelin is formed by Schwann cell in the peripheral nervous system. Large diameter nerve fibers are surrounded by an insulation of membrane known as myelin. Myelin, as well as the number of nodes of Ranvier are proportionately related to the speed of an impulse along a nerve fiber.
According to article published by Annals, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (AAMS) on January 14, 1985 by Singhal B.S. the approximate prevalence rate of MS in India was between 0.17 to 1.33 per 100,000 of population in different parts of India. And the mean onset of MS for MS patients was 27.7 years with high incidence of optic nerve involvement, both at the onset and duing the course of the disease.
The prevalence of MS in Europe is approximately 1/2000 inhabitants (Noseworthy et al., 2000). The disease typically begins between the ages of 20 and 30 and affects twice as many women as men. In 80% of cases, the disease initially evolves through attacks which result completely or with sequalae in a few weeks or months (pure remitting phase or emitting phase with sequalae). However, in 40% to 70% of cases, patients who experience an initially remitting evolvement subsequently evolve towards a progressive form (secondary progressive form). In 20% of patients, the evolvement is immediately progressive without attacks (primary progressive form).
