title: Relationship between contrast sensitivity test and disease severity in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the importance of the Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity test in multiple sclerosis patients according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 62 patients with multiple sclerosis were included in a retrospective study. Patients were enrolled from the Neurology Department to Neuroophthalmology at Virgen de la Victoria Hospital. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to EDSS: group A) lower than 1.5, group B) between 1.5 and 3.5 and group C) greater than 3.5. Visual acuity and monocular and binocular contrast sensitivity were performed with Snellen and Pelli-Robson tests respectively. Twelve disease-free control participants were also recruited. Correlations between parameter changes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of the disease was 81.54±35.32 months. Monocular and binocular Pelli-Robson mean values in the control group were 1.82±0.10 and 1.93±0.43 respectively, and 1.61±0.29 and 1.83±0.19 in multiple sclerosis patients. There were statistically significant differences in the monocular analysis for a level of significance P<.05. Mean monocular and binocular Pelli-Robson values in relation to gravity level were, in group A: 1.66±0.24 and 1.90±0.98, group B: 1.64±0.21 and 1.82±0.16, and group C: 1.47±0.45 and 1.73±0.32 respectively. Group differences were statistically significant in both tests: P=.05 and P=.027.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monocular and binocular contrast discrimination analyzed using the Pelli-Robson test was found to be significantly lower when the severity level, according EDSS, increases in multiple sclerosis patients.
authors: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Soler García
authors: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: González Gómez
authors: Área de Oftalmo-Biología, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Figueroa-Ortiz
authors: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital General de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, España.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: García-Ben
authors: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España; Área de Oftalmo-Biología, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España. Electronic address: jmgarcia@uma.es.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: García-Campos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Contrast sensitivity; Escala expandida del estado de discapacidad; Esclerosis múltiple; Expanded disability status scale; Multiple sclerosis; Neuritis óptica; Optic neuritis; Pelli-Robson; Sensibilidad al contraste