La sclerosi multipla in età pediatrica e adolescenziale

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the myelin of the brain and spinal cord; it is characterized by recurrent episodes of demyelination in the central nervous system. Paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a rare disease, with an estimated frequency of approximately 0.05-2.85 per 100,000 children. The diagnosis requires the spatial and temporal dissemination of the disease with clinical evaluation and with laboratory tests such as oligoclonal bands in the liquor and MRI of the brain and spinal cord. The treatment of the acute episode involves cortisone in high doses, then the immunomodulatory treatment (disease-modifying treatment - DMT) is started to prevent the recurrence of the episodes with consequent stabilization of the lesions that could anticipate the time of permanent disability. Hence, the paper aims to review the literature on POMS to guide physicians on the current understanding of its diagnosis and management.