Trigeminal Neuralgia Often Precedes MS

Stuart SchlossmanMultiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms


                                                                  

  
Click here to receive MS news via e-mail


MS diagnosis also occurred at a later age in those with facial pain


by Contributing Writer, MedPage Today

Trigeminal neuralgia occurred frequently in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and preceded the diagnosis of MS in 15% of those affected, researchers reported. 


Almost 10% of 8,590 survey respondents with MS had been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Of 588 respondents who reported the year that trigeminal neuralgia was diagnosed, the latter’s diagnosis preceded MS in 88 individuals, according to Ruth Ann Marrie MD, PhD, of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and colleagues.


An additional 18% were diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and MS in the same year, they wrote in the International Journal of MS Care.

The average age at trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis was 35 for those initially diagnosed with the condition prior to MS versus 47 for individuals whose trigeminal neuralgia was diagnosed during the same year or after their MS diagnosis.
“Our findings are a reminder to neurologists that it is important to think carefully about secondary causes of trigeminal neuralgia, such as multiple sclerosis, in individuals with new onset of these symptoms, particularly if the individual is young,” Marrie told MedPage Today in an email.
The study involved participants (76% female, 92% white) in the North America Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) Registry. Average disease duration was 23 years.


Read complete article by clicking here


MS Views and News is MAKING an IMPACT on those affected by Multiple Sclerosis

Visit our MS Learning Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/msviewsandnews