Matilde Inglese, MD, PhD

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most commoninflammatory demyelinating disease of theCNS and the most frequent cause of nontraumaticneurological disability in young andmiddle-aged adults.1 Women are twice as likelyto be affected as men, and onset typicallyoccurs between the ages of 20 and 40 years.

A 32-year-old left-handed woman presented with a 4-week history of progressive left hand numbness, tingling, and clumsiness. Symptoms worsened until she found it difficult to write and perform fine motor tasks. She reported having no transient neurological symptoms in the past. Her medical history was significant only for Dengue fever acquired several years ago while on a visit to Southeast Asia. She was taking no medications, and a review of systems was noncontributory.