title: Contribution of relapses to disability in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The impact of relapses on long-term disability in multiple sclerosis remains unclear; however some evidence suggests that relapses play an important role in determining subsequent prognosis. We report on outcome, prognostic factors for recovery and the contribution of relapses to the accumulation of fixed disability in a large series of patients with documented relapses. Two hundred and seventy-nine relapses in 182 patients were assessed before, during and after relapse by expanded disability status scale and data analysed to assess degree of recovery. Factors affecting outcome were considered including sex, age and site of relapse. Mean EDSS prior to relapse was 3.73, during relapse 5.18 and post relapse 4.23. Mean interval to post relapse assessment was 127 days post relapse. Mean residual change in EDSS score (pre to post relapse) was 0.50 points. Overall 49.4 % of patients had a residual increase in disability post relapse of at least 0.5 EDSS points and 32.7 % had an increase of at least 1 point. No significant difference was observed in mean residual EDSS for sex, site of relapse or age at relapse or in the proportion of patients with a residual increase in disability of > or = 1 EDSS point post relapse. 14.4 % of patients had no increase in EDSS score during relapse compared to pre relapse. These results suggest that acute relapses are commonly associated with an objective worsening of disability in the majority of patients with MS and that recovery is incomplete in approximately half and not influenced by gender, age or site of lesion. Therapies which reduce relapse frequency and/or severity might therefore be expected to slow or prevent worsening of disability if initiated prior to the onset of more permanent damage.
authors.affiliation: Helen Durham Neuro-inflammatory Centre, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. Clairehirst_uk@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirst
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pickersgill
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scolding
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence