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This issue arose when a
constituent raised concerns that health insurers are
treating those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as
a broad group, without differentiating for lower
risk in persons who have the subtype "benign."
This page will, at least
initially, serve as a collection point for various
information associated with this specific issue
within the larger issue of insuring those with
higher risk or with pre-existing conditions.
The following clip from
Wikipedia is useful in understanding more about the
diagnosis of the benign subtype of multiple
sclerosis:
[for full article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_Sclerosis
]
Disease course and clinical subtypes
Graph representing the different types of
multiple sclerosis
The course of MS is difficult to predict, and the
disease may at times either lie dormant or progress
steadily. Several subtypes, or patterns of
progression, have been described. Subtypes use the
past course of the disease in an attempt to
predict the future course. A person diagnosed
with a particular subtype may, for unclear reasons,
switch from one subtype to another over time.
Subtypes are important not only for
prognosis but also for
therapeutic decisions. In 1996 the
United States
National Multiple Sclerosis Society standardized
the following four subtype definitions:[11]
- Relapsing-remitting describes the initial
course of 85% to 90% of individuals with MS. This
subtype is characterized by unpredictable attacks
(relapses)
followed by periods of months to years of relative
quiet (remission)
with no new signs of disease activity. Deficits
suffered during the attacks may either resolve or
may be permanent. When deficits always resolve
between attacks, this is referred to as "benign"
MS.
- Secondary progressive describes around 80% of
those with initial relapsing-remitting MS, who
then begin to have neurologic decline between
their acute attacks without any definite periods
of remission. This decline may include new
neurologic symptoms, worsening
cognitive function, or other deficits.
Secondary progressive is the most common type of
MS and causes the greatest amount of
disability.
- Primary progressive describes the
approximately 10% of individuals who never have
remission after their initial MS symptoms. Decline
occurs continuously without clear attacks. The
primary progressive subtype tends to affect people
who are older at disease onset.
- Progressive relapsing describes those
individuals who, from the onset of their MS, have
a steady neurologic decline but also suffer
superimposed attacks.
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Information on Benign MS from Mayo Clinic
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