With PPMS, disability milestones refer to measurable points of increasing disability over time. Unlike relapsing forms of MS, PPMS progresses without periods of remission, which means nerve damage can build up more quickly.
A case of PPMS can be described in one of four ways:
- Inactive without progression — Symptoms Show Full Answer
With PPMS, disability milestones refer to measurable points of increasing disability over time. Unlike relapsing forms of MS, PPMS progresses without periods of remission, which means nerve damage can build up more quickly.
A case of PPMS can be described in one of four ways:
- Inactive without progression — Symptoms aren't worsening, and there's no advancement in disability milestones
- Inactive with progression — No new symptoms or lesions, but disability is still progressing
- Active without progression — Symptoms may worsen or new ones develop, but no disability progression
- Active with progression — New or worsening symptoms, new lesions on MRI, and disability has increased over the past 12 months The good news is that MS progresses quite slowly in most cases. Less than 25% of people with PPMS had reached disability milestones by their fifth year after diagnosis.
One commonly referenced milestone is the need for assistive devices like a cane, walker, or wheelchair. On average, it takes about 12 years for someone with PPMS to begin using a wheelchair — and the FDA-approved treatment ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) has been shown to delay that milestone by an average of seven years.
Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can make a real difference in slowing progression, so staying in close contact with your healthcare provider is key.
May 21
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