title: Prediction of MS disability by multimodal evoked potentials: investigation during relapse or in the relapse-free interval?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about optimal timing of multimodal evoked potential (EP)-investigations regarding prediction of MS disability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether timing of EP-investigations during a relapse or in the relapse-free interval influences prediction of MS disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of MS patients with similar age and gender distributions received visual, motor and somatosensory EPs either during a relapse (Group 1) or in the relapse-free interval (Group 2). Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) was obtained at baseline (T0) and year 3 (T2). Linear regression analysis was performed to examine the association between EDSS(T2) and a baseline EP compound measure (s-EP-Q(T0)) for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median EDSS(T0) was 3.0 for Group 1 and 1.5 for Group 2. Mean disease durations were 2.0 and 2.8 years, respectively. Median EDSS(T2) was 2.0 for both groups. The s-EP-Q(T0) significantly predicted EDSS(T2) (R(2)=0.47) for patients in Group 2, but not for patients in Group 1 (R(2)=0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In early MS the functional remnants of relapses are a better predictor for development of medium-term disability than is the extent of impulse propagation impairment measured during relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This suggests a role of multimodal EPs in prediction of MS disability if performed in the relapse-free interval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlaeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grize
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: peter.fuhr@usb.ch.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fuhr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence
keywords: Disability; Evoked potentials; Multiple sclerosis; Prediction; Relapse