Table 2 Clinical characteristics, clinical presentations, imaging, and visual evoked potential of the studied groups
|  | Total participants (N = 70) | Group A (N = 48) | Group B (N = 22) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age of onset (mean ± SD) | 26 ± 6.083 | 26.27 ± 5.76 | 25.38 ± 6.86 | 0.828 |
Duration of illness (mean ± SD) | 5.33 ± 3.653 | 4.79 ± 3.313 | 6.57 ± 4.154 | 0.128 |
Type of MS | ||||
 RRMS | 56 (80%) | 44 (93.6%) | 11 (50%) | 0.001* |
 PRMS | 13 (18.6%) | 3 (6.4%) | 10 (45.5%) |  |
 PPMS | 1 (1.4%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.5%) |  |
Number of relapses (mean ± SD) | 2.77 ± 1.024 | 2.42 ± 0.895 | 3.55 ± 0.858 | < 0.0001* |
DMT | ||||
 No DMT (steroid only) | 41 (58.6%) | 29 (60.4%) | 12 (54.5%) | 0.849 |
 Interferons | 20 (28.6%) | 13 (27.1%) | 7 (31.8%) |  |
 Fingolimod | 8 (11.4%) | 5 (10.4%) | 3 (13.6%) |  |
 Rituximab | 1 (1.4%) | 1 (2.1%) | 0 (0%) |  |
Motor system manifestations | ||||
 No symptoms | 18 (25.7%) | 18 (37.5%) | 0 (0%) | 0.001* |
 Present motor system affection | ||||
  1. Hemiparesis or hemiplegia | ||||
   Rt side | 15 (21.4%) | 11 (22.9%) | 4 (18.2%) | |
   Left side | 15 (21.4%) | 10 (20.8%) | 5 (22.7%) | |
  2. Spinal affection | ||||
   Paraparesis or paraplegia | 10 (14.3%) | 6 (12.5%) | 4 (18.2%) | |
   Quadriparesis or quadriplegia | 9 (12.9%) | 1 (2.1%) | 8 (36.4%) | |
   Monoparesis | 3 (4.3%) | 2 (4.2%) | 1 (4.5%) | |
Cerebellar manifestations | ||||
 No symptoms | 53 (75.7%) | 35 (72.9%) | 18 (81.8%) | 0.295 |
 Present cerebellar manifestations | ||||
  Unilateral ataxia | 10 (14.3%) | 6 (12.5%) | 4 (18.2%) |  |
  Bilateral ataxia | 2 (2.9%) | 2 (4.2%) | 0 (0%) |  |
  Truncal ataxia | 5 (7.1%) | 5 (10.4%) | 0 (0%) |  |
Sphincter manifestations | ||||
 No | 52 (74.3%) | 41 (85.4%) | 11 (50%) | 0.006* |
 Present sphincter manifestations | ||||
  Precipitancy | 15 (21.4%) | 7 (14.6%) | 8 (36.4%) |  |
  Hesitancy | 2 (2.9%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (9.1%) |  |
  Retention | 1 (1.4%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (4.5%) |  |
Sensory manifestations | ||||
 No | 14 (20%) | 13 (27.1%) | 1 (4.5%) | 0.001* |
 Present sensory manifestations | ||||
  Heminumbness | 39 (55.7%) | 29 (60.4%) | 10 (45.5%) |  |
  Sensory level | 17 (24.3%) | 6 (12.5%) | 11 (50%) |  |
Optic manifestations | ||||
 No symptoms | 36 (51.4%) | 25 (52.1%) | 11 (50%) | 0.030* |
 Present optic manifestations | ||||
  Right (RT) optic affection | 14 (20%) | 11 (22.9%) | 3 (13.6%) |  |
  Left (LT) optic affection | 12 (17.1%) | 10 (20.8%) | 2 (9.1%) |  |
  Bilateral optic affection | 8 (11.4%) | 2 (4.2%) | 6 (27.3%) |  |
MRI brain | ||||
 Periventricular | 43 (61.4%) | 27 (56.3%) | 16 (72.7%) | 0.290 |
 Cerebellum | 19 (27.1%) | 15 (31.3%) | 4 (18.2%) | 0.386 |
 Juxtacortical | 30 (42.9%) | 25 (52.1%) | 5 (22.7%) | 0.036* |
MRI spine | ||||
 Cervical plaque | 10 (14.3%) | 3 (6.3%) | 7 (31.8%) | 0.008* |
 Dorsal plaque | 15 (21.4%) | 8 (16.7%) | 7 (31.8%) | 0.210 |
 Lumber | 10 (14.3%) | 5 (10.4%) | 5 (22.7%) | 0.268 |
The visual evoked potential | ||||
 Normal | 29 (41.4%) | 21 (43.8%) | 8 (36.4%) | 0.61 |
 Abnormal | 41 (58.6%) | 27 (56.3%) | 14 (63.6%) |  |