Doha: New advance treatment methods available at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) which enhance quality of life for those affected by the condition.
“The MS Program at HMC was established to provide excellence in care for patients who have the disease. Tremendous progress has been made in recent years in the approval of disease-modifying drugs used to treat MS,” said Prof Dr. Dirk Deleu, Senior Consultant and Director of MS Program at Hamad General Hospital, adding that Qatar is one of the leading countries in the region to introduce many of these new treatments.
“Over 1,200 patients out of which almost 70% are young female, are being treated at HMC for MS, and experts at HMC are dedicated in providing targeted diagnosis and patient-tailored treatments,” Prof. Dr. Deleu told The Peninsula.
“At HMC, we have a multi-disciplinary team which takes care of MS patients. Our services and treatment methods are similar to any centre of excellence for MS,” he added.
According to Prof. Dr Deleu, prevalence rate of MS in Qatar is around 94 cases per 100,000 people which is comparable with other countries in the region.
MS is a potentially disabling disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms of MS can vary widely and depend on the amount of central nervous system tract damage and which tracts are affected.
Prof. Dr Deleu said that the initial presenting symptoms often include blurred vision, numbness or loss of sensation, incontinence, weakness in the extremities, coordination problems, and double vision. Symptoms of MS should persist for at least 24 hours to suspect MS. The disease is more common in women than men and while it is not believed to be hereditary, family members have a slightly higher risk of developing the disease.
“Untreated, the disease can cause the nerves to deteriorate or become permanently damaged,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Deleu said that early diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing relapses and may help delay or prevent irreversible damage.
“We are able to help many patients with MS effectively manage their symptoms and these patients are able to live full and active lives. However, early detection is key to getting the disease under control. If symptoms are ignored or discounted and a person has several attacks, we may have lost the critical window for treatment,” said Prof. Dr. Deleu.
MS is rarely fatal, but it is a lifelong condition that requires careful monitoring and ongoing management. Treatment plans at HMC are individualised and designed around the patient, depending on the type and stage of their disease.
“Once treatment has been started, it is important to strictly adhere to the treatment to avoid increase in the disease’s activities and relapses,” said Prof. Dr Deleu.
World MS Day is officially marked on the last Wednesday of May, and 2020-2023 World MS Day theme is: ‘Connections’. To coincide with this HMC held several awareness activities.
