BACKGROUND Certain lifestyle factors might influence disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES To investigate the consumption of alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, fish and cigarette smoking in relation to disability progression in relapsing onset and progressive onset MS. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey amongst individuals with MS, registered by the Flemis...

EDSs are an important part of patient care and medical communication. The GWH has a financially motivated target stating that 95% of EDS are to be completed within 24 hours of patient discharge. On review of a six-week pre-intervention period, the medical ward mean weekly EDS completion rate within 24 hours was 74.3%. EDSs form a significant part of junior doctor workload. We found that on a me...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of clinical, imaging and motor evoked potentials (MEP) for predicting the short-term prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS We obtained clinical data, MRI and MEP from a prospective cohort of 51 patients and 20 matched controls followed for two years. Clinical end-points recorded were: ...

Fatigue and walking difficulties are common impairments activity limitations in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Walking fatigability (WF) can be measured by a Distance Walked Index is defined as decline distance of 10% or more during the six-minute test (6MWT). However, clinical manifestation perceived symptoms related to still not well documented. Forty-nine PwMS [Expanded Disability S...

BACKGROUND Low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA), a sensitive measure of visual function in multiple sclerosis (MS), demonstrated treatment effects as a secondary outcome measure in the Phase 3 trial of natalizumab, AFFIRM. In these posttrial analyses, we studied the relation of visual function to quality of life (QOL), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures, and Expanded Disability Status Scale...

INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Estimates of MS natural history (NH) disability progression speed from clinical observations vary worldwide. This may reflect, in part, variance in censoring-bias) (missing observations) and assumptions about when irreversible disability progression events occurred. We test whether estimates of progression ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of glatiramer acetate (GA) compared to other multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies in routine clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Observational cohort study carried out in MS patients treated with GA (GA cohort) or other MS therapies -switched from GA- (non-GA cohort). Study data were obtained through review of our MS patient database. The primary endpoi...

BACKGROUND Although the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) genetic polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis (MS), has been debated, the presence of the epsilon4 allele has been associated with an aggressive disease progression. OBJECTIVES Present study aimed to investigate whether or not the APOE allele has an impact on disease progression in patients with MS. The study investigated the ...

BACKGROUND The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) is a validated and reliable tool to assess the extent of disabilities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the use of this tool has been found to be limited in assessing various symptoms of MS that are important. Our study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a new scoring system, reverse nutech functional score (RNFS) as compa...

BACKGROUND Individual functional system scores (FSS) of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) play a central role in determining the overall EDSS score in patients with early-stage multiple sclerosis (MS). Alemtuzumab treatment improves preexisting disability for many patients; however, it is unknown whether improvement is specific to certain functional systems. OBJECTIVE We assessed th...