How and Why Does Multiple Sclerosis Appear Differently in African Americans?
Possible mischaracterization of the condition
Because multiple sclerosis can cause a wide variety of symptoms across a spectrum of severity, it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose in patients. Historically the disease has been studied in Caucasian patients; therefore, the symptoms and patterns that have been cataloged and are commonly used to identify and treat the disease have been based on how it manifests in Caucasian patients. Researchers are beginning to speculate that this may be a mischaracterization of the disease.
