title: High clinical inflammatory activity prior to the development of secondary progression: a prospective 5-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study if there are different patterns of clinical activity--measured by the annual exacerbation rate (AER)--among relapsing-remitting multiple sderosis (RRMS), "early" secondary multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and "late" SPMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective 5-year follow-up study in 80 MS patients has been carried out, calculating the AER and the mean expanded disability status scale (EDSS) change rate (MCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference on the AER, among RRMS, early SPMS and late SPMS, has been found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SPMS has a high clinical inflammatory activity before and during its transformation from a RRMS.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Services of the University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain. bcasanovae@meditex.es
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coret
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Landete
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vilchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors