title: Effect of Fampridine-PR (prolonged released 4-aminopyridine) on the manual functions of patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persons with MS (PwMS) commonly present ambulatory and manual dysfunctions. While ambulation is recognized as important to PwMS, manual dysfunction is only lately gaining attention. Fampridine-PR was approved for MS ambulatory impairments. Anecdotal evidences indicate possible therapeutic effects on manual function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To comprehensively assess the effect of Fampridine-PR on manual functions of PwMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty six PwMS with ambulatory and manual dysfunction assessed before, 1 and 3months after treatment with Fampridine-PR, applying Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW) for ambulation while manual functions were evaluated by several tools addressing the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) concepts. This includes hand grip and pinch strength, 9 Hole Peg Test (9HPT), Arthritis Hand Function Test (AHFT), activities of daily life (ADL) tests, ABILHAND questionnaire and Computerized Penmanship Evaluation Tool (ComPET).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fampridine-PR increased dominant hand grip and pinch strength 1month following treatment initiation by 12% and 10% (p<0.05), respectively. 9HPT improved by 11.3% after 3months of treatment (p<0.05%) and ABILHAND improved by 16% and 31% (p<0.05%) after 1 and 3months of treatment. Mean stroke duration in air of the name writing task improved by 21% (p<0.05) following 3months of treatment. T25FW results were similar to previous reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this pilot study suggest that Fampridine-PR improves manual function of PwMS. Methods herein indicate that an integrative approach may be useful for evaluation of manual function in MS and in additional neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Efron Street, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: zivsavin23@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ziv
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Savin
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Efron Street, Haifa, Israel; Multiple Sclerosis & Brain Research Center, Carmel Medical Center, 7 Michal Street, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: izabella@tx.technion.ac.il.
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lejbkowicz
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Efron Street, Haifa, Israel; Multiple Sclerosis & Brain Research Center, Carmel Medical Center, 7 Michal Street, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: leam@tx.technion.ac.il.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glass-Marmor
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, Carmel Medical Center, 7 Michal Street, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: lavi_idit@clalit.org.il.
authors.forename: Idit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lavi
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Complex Human Activity and Participation (CHAP), Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Avenue, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: rosens@univ.haifa.ac.il.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Efron Street, Haifa, Israel; Multiple Sclerosis & Brain Research Center, Carmel Medical Center, 7 Michal Street, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: milleras@netvision.net.il.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015761:4-Aminopyridine
keywords: Fampridine-PR; Hands function; Handwriting; International classification of functioning; Multiple sclerosis; Neurorehabilitation