Overview
Pediatric multiple sclerosis (also called pediatric MS, childhood MS, or juvenile MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord — that begins before the age of 18. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating around nerve fibers, called myelin. This damage disrupts the signals that nerves send throughout the body, causing a wide range of symptoms depending on which nerves are affected. Children with MS most often experience episodes called relapses, where symptoms suddenly appear or get worse, followed by periods of partial or full recovery. Common symptoms include vision problems, muscle weakness, balance difficulties, fatigue, and trouble with memory or concentration. Because the brain is still developing in children, pediatric MS can have a bigger impact on learning and emotional well-being than adult MS. There is no cure for pediatric MS, but several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available to reduce the number of relapses and slow the disease. Some medications approved for adults, such as interferon beta, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, and fingolimod, are used in children. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important to protect the developing brain and improve long-term outcomes.
Key symptoms:
Vision problems, including blurry vision or loss of vision in one eye (optic neuritis)Muscle weakness in the arms or legsNumbness or tingling in the body, arms, or legsProblems with balance and coordinationExtreme tiredness (fatigue)Difficulty walkingBladder problems, such as needing to urinate urgently or frequentlyMemory and concentration difficultiesMood changes, including depression or anxietyDizziness or vertigoSlurred speechMuscle stiffness or spasms
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Juvenile
Begins in the teen years
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsBiogen — PHASE3
GLATOPA: New indication approved
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa — NA
Hoffmann-La Roche — PHASE2
GLATOPA: New indication approved
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
GLATOPA: New indication approved
GLATOPA: New indication approved
GLATOPA: New indication approved
Hoffmann-La Roche — PHASE3
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
4 availableNovantrone
reducing neurologic disability and/or the frequency of clinical relapses in patients with progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis
Remicade
reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate respons…
reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy
Copaxone
For reduction of the frequency of relapses in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Avonex
Treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to slow the accumulation of physical disability and decrease the frequency of clinical exacerbations.
Rare Disease Specialist
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Financial Resources
1 resourcesTravel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Pediatric multiple sclerosis.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Pediatric multiple sclerosis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: A Pharmacokinetics (PK), Pharmacodynamics (PD), Safety and Tolerability Study of Fenebrutinib in Children and Adolescents With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric multiple sclerosis
New recruiting trial: Obesity and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric multiple sclerosis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Which disease-modifying therapy do you recommend for my child, and why?,How often will my child need MRI scans and neurology check-ups?,What signs should I watch for that mean my child is having a relapse and needs immediate care?,What school accommodations should we put in place, and can you provide documentation to support this?,Are there any clinical trials for pediatric MS that my child might be eligible for?,How might this disease affect my child's brain development and learning long-term?,What mental health and psychosocial support resources are available for my child and our family?
Common questions about Pediatric multiple sclerosis
What is Pediatric multiple sclerosis?
Pediatric multiple sclerosis (also called pediatric MS, childhood MS, or juvenile MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord — that begins before the age of 18. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating around nerve fibers, called myelin. This damage disrupts the signals that nerves send throughout the body, causing a wide range of symptoms depending on which nerves are affected. Children with MS most often experience episodes called relapses, where symptoms suddenly appear or get worse, followed by periods of partial or full re
How is Pediatric multiple sclerosis inherited?
Pediatric multiple sclerosis follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Pediatric multiple sclerosis typically begin?
Typical onset of Pediatric multiple sclerosis is juvenile. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Pediatric multiple sclerosis?
Yes — 3 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Pediatric multiple sclerosis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Pediatric multiple sclerosis?
14 specialists and care centers treating Pediatric multiple sclerosis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Pediatric multiple sclerosis?
1 patient support program are currently tracked on UniteRare for Pediatric multiple sclerosis. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.