Open AccessMultiple sclerosis in India: An overview
Author(s) -
Bhim Singhal,
Hemali Advani
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
annals of indian academy of neurology (print)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1998-3549
pISSN - 0972-2327
DOI - 10.4103/0972-2327.164812
Subject(s) - neuromyelitis optica , multiple sclerosis , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , pediatrics , medical physics , radiology , psychiatry
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is being increasingly diagnosed in India mainly due to increase in the number of practicing neurologists and easy and affordable availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical features and course are largely similar to those seen in the West. The term optico-spinal MS (Asian MS) was coined in the pre-MRI days. Many such patients turn out to be cases of neuromyelitis optica - a distinct disorder and not a variant of MS. Others have shown the classical features of MS on MRI scan. Several of the disease-modifying agents, not all, are now available in India. Their use, however, has been limited in view of the high cost.