High clinical inflammatory activity prior to the development of secondary progression: a prospective 5-year follow-up study.
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.
Casanova
B
B
Neurology Services of the University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain. bcasanovae@meditex.es
Coret
F
F
Valero
C
C
Landete
L
L
Pascual
A
A
Vilchez
J J
JJ
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