Types of MS: What Are the Differences & Why Do They Matter?
When you Google types of MS, it looks like they fall cleanly into 4 main categories: relapsing remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive, and progressive relapsing.
The truth? It’s much more complex, says Robert Shin, MD. He would know. He’s director of UVA Health’s MS and Clinical Neuroimmunology Division. Unlike many neurologists, he focuses solely on multiple sclerosis and diseases like it. That allows him to stay on top of the latest advances in multiple sclerosis — including how we define MS types.
We asked Shin to help us understand the forms of MS and why they matter for your treatment.
How We Talk About Types of MS
MS treatment has changed rapidly over the past 30 years. In the 1990s, there was no treatment. Now we have dozens of effective medicines.
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Our UVA Health team focuses only on multiple sclerosis and diseases like it. That means we're always on top of the latest advancements.
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