Rapidly progressive course of very late onset multiple sclerosis presenting with Parkinsonism: case report

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis mainly affects young adolescents, making late-onset multiple sclerosis a rarity and diagnostic challenge, particularly for cases after age 80 years. We present an 82-year-old patient with multiple sclerosis with very late onset. As well as spastic paraplegia, additional Parkinsonism secondary to demyelination in the basal ganglia was observed in this case. In most publications, spinal cord lesions were more common in late-onset multiple sclerosis which, in contrast, could not be found in our case. Despite different treatment strategies, rapid clinical deterioration and death after about 2 years of disease course occurred. Further discrimination in late-onset multiple sclerosis (50–70 years) and multiple sclerosis with very late onset (above 70 years) might be considered. Future trials to elucidate potential benefit of immunosuppressive (and neuroprotective) therapies in these age groups are mandatory.