Acute Transient Hemiparesis - An Unusual Pseudo Exacerbation of Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACT

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease characterised by inflammation and plaque formation. Multiple sclerosis has many variants. It presents as four clinical forms, Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS), and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) and Primary Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (PRMS). RRMS can present as acute attacks. They should be differentiated from pseudo-exacerbations. True exacerbation is when a new lesion appears in the brain or spinal cord, with a neurological episode lasting for more than 24 hours, with a period of clinical stability over the last 30 days.1 Any flaring up of symptoms of multiple sclerosis due to external factors such as fever, heat or infection is called pseudo-exacerbations. Pseudo-exacerbation episodes do not last for more than 24 hours and should resolve with treatment of the underlying fever or infection.2