Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

NLM Logo

Multiple Sclerosis MeSH Descriptor Data 2026


MeSH Heading
Multiple Sclerosis
Tree Number(s)
C10.114.375.500
C10.314.350.500
C20.111.258.250.500
Unique ID
D009103
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D009103
Scope Note
An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)
Entry Term(s)
MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating
Sclerosis, Disseminated
NLM Classification #
WL 360
See Also
Myelitis, Transverse
Date Introduced
1966/01/01
Last Updated
2010/06/25
Multiple Sclerosis Preferred
Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating Narrower
page delivered in 0.144s