Temporal evolution of remission following multiple sclerosis relapse and predictors of outcome

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 1152-1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire L Hirst ◽  
Gillian Ingram ◽  
Trevor P Pickersgill ◽  
Neil P Robertson

Background: Relapse is a characteristic clinical feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is commonly employed as a measure of efficacy following therapeutic intervention. However, less is known about the temporal evolution of subsequent disability or factors predicting recovery. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the pattern of recovery following relapse and identify factors which predict recovery and residual disability following relapse. Methods: A total of 226 relapses were studied prospectively in a cohort of 144 patients with standardised clinical assessments of physical disability including Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 10-m timed walk, 9-hole peg test and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) at 0, 2, 6 and 12 months. A total of 82 patients completed 12 months of follow up without further relapse. Results: Thirty per cent of relapses were severe (change in EDSS >2.0) of which 11% failed to recover. All measures showed significant improvement at 2 months but additional improvement was also observed in 9-hole peg test and MSIS-29 up to 12 months following initial assessment. Mean time to second relapse was 382 days. The only predictor of relapse severity in the model tested was younger age; however, increasing age and initial relapse severity were also predictors of poor outcome. Conclusions: This study shows that the majority of improvement in physical disability following relapse occurs by 2 months but that more subtle recovery can take place over 12 months in a small sub-group of patients. These data will aid in patient counselling and will also inform the timing of therapeutic intervention and physical support.

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Flachenecker ◽  
T Kümpfel ◽  
B Kallmann ◽  
M Gottschalk ◽  
O Grauer ◽  
...  

Objectives: Fatigue is one of the most common, yet poorly defined, disabling symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To delineate more clearly the frequency and type of fatigue, we first compared four widely used fatigue scales in consecutive MS patients. Secondly, to further clarify the nature of fatigue, we investigated its relation to physical disability, course of the disease, immunotherapy, and depression. Patients and Methods: Between February and September 2000, 151 consecutive MS patients entering our outpatient clinic (94 relapsing-remitting, 50 secondary progressive, and 7 primary progressive patients; mean age 29.0-7.3 years, mean disease duration 9.9-6.7 years, median EDSS 3.5) filled in a standardized questionnaire including four fatigue scales - Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), MS-specific FSS (MFSS), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Patients were included in the ‘MS-related fatigue group’ (MS-F) when they stated in the questionnaire that fatigue: 1) is one of their three most disabling symptoms; 2) occurs daily or on most of the days; and 3) limits their activities at home or at work. Patients fulfilling none of these criteria were classified as ‘MS-related nonfatigue group’ (MS-NF). Depression was measured by Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: Although all scales showed significant differences between MS-F and MS-NF, correlation between these scales was, at best, moderate (correlation coefficients ranging from 0.06 to 0.56). The most discriminative scales were FSS and MFIS, showing no overlap of the 10th and 90th percentiles for the MS-F and MS-NF groups, with cut-off values of 4.6 and 38, respectively. Depression (BDI≥18) was present in 24 of 148 patients who filled in the BDI (16%). FSS was significantly correlated with physical disability (r =0.33, p <0.0001) and BDI (r =0.41, p<0.0001), but not with age, disease duration, clinical activity, and treatment with interferon-b. In multivariate analysis, however, only BDI independently predicted fatigue. Conclusions: The association of fatigue and depression suggests that there might be either common underlying mechanisms or interdependence by a cause-and-effect relationship that requires further investigation. The weak correlation within various fatigue scales is best explained by the fact that fatigue is a multidimensional symptom and, therefore, the available tests measure and weight different aspects of fatigue. Our findings underline the necessity for a more exact definition of fatigue and the development of more valid tools if these are to be used to evaluate treatments.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Ayatollahi ◽  
S Nafissi ◽  
MR Eshraghian ◽  
H Kaviani ◽  
A Tarazi

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can influence all aspects of a patient's health. This study determines the main factors affecting quality of life (QoL) in Iranian MS patients. QoL (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale; MSIS-29), disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI) were assessed in 106 MS patients. EDSS, clinical course and MS duration significantly correlated with physical MSIS-29. Depression highly correlated with both physical and psychological MSIS-29. Regression analyses showed that depression and EDSS predicted physical health. Psychological health was predicted by depression. These findings highlight that depression and physical disability strongly influence QoL in Iranian MS patients. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 275–277. http://msj.sagepub.com


Author(s):  
Zeinab E. Afifi ◽  
Rania I. Shehata ◽  
Asmaa F. El Sayed ◽  
El Sayed M. Hammad ◽  
Marwa R. Salem

Abstract Background Nutrition was claimed to be a factor in MS causation, course, complications, and management. Several studies were conducted to assess the nutritional status of MS patients; however, few studies were conducted to assess this problem in Egypt. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess the nutritional status of a sample of MS patients. Methods The researchers conducted an exploratory cross-sectional study among 76 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients attending Kasr Alainy Multiple Sclerosis Unit (KAMSU) from October 2018 to January 2019 to assess the nutritional status of a sample of MS patients. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire including an inquiry about the socioeconomic status, and nutritional status using anthropometric measurements, patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ), and hemoglobin level measurement. Assessment of fatigue was done using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale 5-items version. Results The mean age of the study participants was 30 ± 6 years. The disease duration ranged from 2 to 264 months. Malnutrition was prevalent among 67.1% (27.6 % overweight, 36.8% obese, and 2.6% underweight). Half of the investigated patients were anemic. According to the PG-SGA, more than half of the studied patients (53.9%) were classified as moderately or suspected malnourished. The unhealthy dietary habits such as taking only a few meals, junk food intake and skipping breakfast were observed in considerable proportions of the group. The SQFFQ revealed overconsumption of energy and fat, and less than acceptable consumption of dietary fibers by most of the studied patients. Conclusions Overweight, obesity, anemia, and unhealthy dietary habits were prevalent among the RRMS patients attending the KAMSU. Nutrition care service is extremely needed for this group of patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 205521732199604
Author(s):  
Sabina David Ruban ◽  
Claudia Christina Hilt ◽  
Thor Petersen

Background Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease leading to reduced quality of life. Objectives To investigate whether motor and cognitive fatigue impact differently on aspects of quality of life among patients with multiple sclerosis, independently from bodily disability. Methods 79 patients with multiple sclerosis from Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark were included in an observational, cross-sectional study. Each subject completed two separate questionnaires regarding fatigue (Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale) and one regarding quality of life (Short Form 36). Disability was measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)-scores obtained from patient records. Results All fatigue scores were significantly correlated to all areas of quality of life (p < 0,05). This remained significant after adjustment for age, disease duration and EDSS-score. When looking at each type of fatigue separately, cognitive fatigue correlated mainly with mental health aspects of quality of life and motor fatigue with physical health areas of quality of life. Conclusion Increased motor and cognitive fatigue lead to a differential reduction in physical and mental quality of life, independently of bodily disability. This underlines the importance of proper assessment and treatment of fatigue among patients with multiple sclerosis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myla D Goldman ◽  
Ruth Ann Marrie ◽  
Jeffrey A Cohen

Objective To assess the characteristics of the 6-min walk (6MW) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects of varied disability, and controls. To assess the correlation of 6MW to subjective measures of fatigue, health status and ambulation using the modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), short form-36 Health Questionnaire physical component score and MS walking scale (MSWS). Methods Forty MS expanded disability status scale [(EDSS) 0—6.5] and 20 control subjects were recruited from a MS outpatient clinic. Subjects completed survey material and three 6MWs with 1-h interval rest in a single study visit. Results There was no practice effect or fatigability with repeat 6MW tests with a one-h rest period between test sessions. The 6MW had excellent intra-[intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.95] and inter-rater (ICC = 0.91) reliability. MS subjects demonstrated reduced 6MW distance and speed compared with controls ( P < 0.0001). Within the MS population 6MW distance was significantly reduced with increasing disability ( P = 0.05). Compared with the EDSS, the 6MW had a stronger correlation to subjective measures of ambulation and physical fatigue: MSWS ( r = -0.81 versus 0.69) and MFISphy (0.66 versus 0.63). Conclusions The 6MW is a feasible, reproducible, and reliable measure in MS. MS subjects demonstrate motor fatigue in both 6MW distance and speed compared with controls. In MS subjects there is an inverse relationship between motor fatigue and disability. 6MW has a strong correlation to subjective measures of ambulation and physical fatigue. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 383—390. http://msj.sagepub.com


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 205521731988798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Meca-Lallana ◽  
María Brañas-Pampillón ◽  
Yolanda Higueras ◽  
Antonio Candeliere-Merlicco ◽  
Yolanda Aladro-Benito ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1585-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Wybrecht ◽  
Françoise Reuter ◽  
Wafaa Zaaraoui ◽  
Anthony Faivre ◽  
Lydie Crespy ◽  
...  

Background: The ability of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict subsequent physical disability and cognitive deterioration after a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is weak. Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether conventional MRI changes over 1 year could predict cognitive and physical disability 5 years later in CIS. We performed analyses using a global approach (T2 lesion load, number of T2 lesions), but also a topographic approach. Methods: This study included 38 patients with a CIS. At inclusion, 10 out of 38 patients fulfilled the 2010 revised McDonald’s criteria for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) evaluation was performed at baseline, year 1 and year 5, and cognitive evaluation at baseline and year 5. T2-weighted MRI was performed at baseline and year 1. We used voxelwise analysis to analyse the predictive value of lesions location for subsequent disability. Results: Using the global approach, no correlation was found between MRI and clinical data. The occurrence or growth of new lesions in the brainstem was correlated with EDSS changes over the 5 years of follow-up. The occurrence or growth of new lesions in cerebellum, thalami, corpus callosum and frontal lobes over 1 year was correlated with cognitive impairment at 5 years. Conclusion: The assessment of lesion location at the first stage of multiple sclerosis may be of value to predict future clinical disability.


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