Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40709983›Full record

ArticleDiseases (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Age-Onset-Related Particularities of Pediatric MS-Understanding the Spectrum: A Tertiary Center Experience.

Alice Denisa Dică, Dana Craiu, Florentina Ionela Linca, Magdalena Budișteanu, Catrinel Iliescu, Carmen Sandu, Cristina Pomeran, Diana Bârcă, Niculina Butoianu, Carmen Burloiu and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Alice Denisa DicăPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Dana CraiuPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Florentina Ionela LincaDepartment of Special Psychopedagogy, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest, 0506578 Bucharest, Romania.
Magdalena BudișteanuPsychiatry Research Laboratory, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Catrinel IliescuPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Carmen SanduPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Cristina PomeranPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Diana BârcăPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-6223-6383
Niculina ButoianuPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Carmen BurloiuPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Ioana MinciuPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Ina Ofelia FocșaPsychiatry Research Laboratory, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-9528-9083
Dana SurlicăPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Oana Tarța-ArsenePediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Cristina CazacuPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Andreea BadeaPediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Alexandru Stefan NiculaePediatric Neurology Department, Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, 041914 Bucharest, Romania.
Daniela Adriana IonPediatric Neurology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) is a rare and heterogeneous condition, with clinical features, progression, and therapeutic response varying significantly according to age at onset. Early-onset MS (<10 years) presents particular diagnostic and management challenges due to atypical presentations and more active inflammatory profiles.

objectivesTo identify age-related clinical, radiological, and therapeutic characteristics of pediatric MS, with a specific focus on early-onset cases, and to compare them with intermediate (10-12 years) and late-onset (>12 years) forms.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records from 120 pediatric patients diagnosed with MS at a tertiary neurology center between 2018 and 2024. Patients were grouped by age at onset and assessed for clinical presentation, number and timing of relapses, EDSS scores, imaging findings, and treatment patterns.

resultsEarly-onset MS was associated with atypical symptoms, delayed diagnosis, more frequent relapses, and multifocal brainstem and cerebellar involvement. The diagnosis was significantly delayed in younger children compared to adolescents. EDSS scores tended to remain stable in the first 2-3 years, but early-onset patients showed a notable decline after the fourth year. While most patients received disease-modifying therapies, high-efficacy agents were underused due to age-related restrictions. Intermediate-onset patients presented overlapping features of both early and late-onset MS and had the highest proportion of fully preserved motor function (EDSS 0) at the end of follow-up. MRI findings revealed more extensive and confluent lesions in younger patients, particularly in the first two years after onset.

conclusionsAge at disease onset is a key determinant of clinical course and treatment response in pediatric MS. Early recognition and timely initiation of appropriate therapy-especially high-efficacy agents-may improve outcomes and reduce long-term disability. Further multicenter studies with standardized imaging and cognitive assessment protocols are needed to optimize care for this vulnerable population.

Indexed as

challengechildrenearly onsetmultiple sclerosisparticularities

Identifiers

PMID40709983
PMCPMC12293377

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.