Clinically isolated syndrome in childhood: A retrospective multicenter study

Clinically isolated syndrome in childhood: A retrospective multicenter study Objectives: To present the demographic, clinical, laboratory and prognostic data in a large group of children with CIS (clinically isolated syndrome) and to evaluate the conversion rate from (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Eighty-sixpediatric CIS patients from sixcenters were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 12.63.5 (3-17)years. The mean follow-up period was 19.823.3months. The female to male ratio was 1.3:1. The most commonpresentations wereoptic neuritis (50%), sensorial symptoms (33.7%), and focal motor deficits (19.8%) (Table 1). Among the 58 patients with at least one-year of follow-up; thirty-six(41.9%) patients converted to MS, with greater predisposition within the first six months (n=22, 61.1%).Optic neuritis,and sensorial symptoms at first admission, periventricular, cortical/juxtacortical lesions and presence of more than 3 lesions on the first MRI, presence of oligoclonal band unique to cerebrospinal fluid and elevated IgG index at first admission were significantly associated with progression to MS (p<0.05, Table 2,3). The patients who converted to MS at the end of one year follow-up period were older at the initial attack (13.73.2years vs. 11.094.06 years, p=0.012). Conclusion: Evaluation of patients with CIS in terms of potential risk factors for conversion from CIS to MS is essential. Progression from CIS to MS is most common in the first six months of follow-up. The presence of periventricular white matter lesions was the most important risk factor for conversion of CIS to MS.
Keywords: Clinically, isolated, children, CIS