EARLY-ONSET OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS WITH AUTOPSY CONFIRMATION

A female had her first generalized epileptic seizure at age 11 yrs. Ap art from intermittent seizures she remained well until 15 yrs of age w hen she developed double vision, unsteadiness and bilateral plantar re sponses which resolved spontaneously. Brain MRI scan at this stage rev ealed changes typical of multiple sclerosis. She died at 17 yrs of age from asthma and epilepsy. Autopsy confirmed the presence of multiple sclerosis and showed the disease to be very active. We consider it lik ely that multiple sclerosis was present at the age of 11 yrs when she had her first epileptic seizure. This case of multiple sclerosis is pr esented because of the rarity of the early age of onset, unusual prese ntation with epilepsy, marked activity of disease and early death. Als o it is uncommon to have autopsy confirmation of such disease.