Types Of MS
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common type of MS, affecting about 75% of people diagnosed. With relapsing-remitting MS, people experience relapses, or attacks, where old symptoms flare up or new symptoms develop over several days or weeks. This is followed by periods of remission, where symptoms may go away completely, or may be reduced. Relapsing-remitting MS can be treated with disease-modifying treatments (DMTs).
These are medications that target the immune system in order to slow the course of the disease and are typically taken for long periods of time. Disease modifying treatments slow the progression of MS, meaning that disability occurs over a much longer period, and allow people with MS to live for longer with fewer and less severe symptoms. Some people who have relapsing-remitting MS will go on to develop secondary-progressive MS.
Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis
After an initial period of relapsing-remitting MS, some people will develop secondary-progressive MS. In this type of MS, disability may increase slowly over many years or decades, usually without relapses, though occasionally, relapses may still occur.
Secondary-progressive MS can be due to an accumulation of damage that’s built up over many years of relapses, however the cause of secondary-progressive MS is still not fully understood. In the past, it took about 20 years for someone to develop secondary-progressive MS after being diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. Now, because of the new disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) that are available, it tends to take longer on average for people to develop secondary-progressive MS, and some people don’t develop it at all.
Primary-progressive multiple sclerosis
Roughly 10% of people who receive a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis are found to have primary-progressive MS. In this form, people experience a gradual and continuous deterioration of symptoms and disability without experiencing distinct attacks, though sometimes relapses do occur. Progression can look different for each person affected and diagnosis can be complex and take time. DMT for primary-progressive MS started soon after diagnosis aims to slow progression and prevent any possible relapses.