title: Combined evoked potentials as markers and predictors of disability in early multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively assess combined evoked potentials (EP) as markers and predictors of the disease course of early MS over 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients in the early phase of relapsing remitting MS prospectively received visual, somatosensory and motor EP and EDSS assessments at baseline (T1) and at 6 months intervals during 3 years. Spearman rank correlation was used to determine the relationship between z-transformed EP-latencies (z-EPL) and EDSS. Multivariable linear regression was performed to predict EDSS at year 3 (T7) in function of z-EPL(T1). Validity of the models was assessed using group cross-validation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At each of the seven points in time, EDSS correlated with the sum of z-EPL (0.64 ≤ rho ≤ 0.79, p<0.001). The change of the sum of z-EPL(T7-T1) correlated with the change of EDSS(T7-T1) (rho=0.51, p=0.001). EDSS(T7) as predicted by the sum of z-scores of EP latencies or by the number of pathological EP results at baseline correlated with the observed clinical values after 3 years (rho>0.70, p<0.001, for both measures).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multimodal EPs correlate well with clinical disability in cross-sectional and longitudinal comparison in early MS and allow prediction of disease evolution over 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPs seem well suited as markers of the disease course in early MS in clinical trials and bear potential for supporting decision-finding in individual patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlaeger
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grize
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuhr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult