title: Posturography in MS patients treated with high dose methylprednisolone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the sensitivity of the balance sway index (SI) to drug-induced functional changes during acute relapse in patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dynamic posturography was used to derive the SI in 11 healthy subjects and 13 MS patients before and after intravenous high dose methylprednisolone (HDMP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, SI was lower in the least demanding task and increased with test complexity. Compared to the healthy group, patients were distinguished by a higher SI both prior to and following administration of HDMP (p < 0.008). However, the effect of the drug on patients' SI was unremarkable. Total Expanded Disability Status Scale score was lower after treatment compared to pre-treatment values (p < 0.001), with significantly lower mean score recorded in patients with pyramidal and cerebellar abnormalities (p = 0.017 and p = 0.011, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SI measure of dynamic posturography is not sensitive to short-term HDMP-induced functional changes during acute relapse in patients with MS. Further studies are needed to evaluate modified balance protocols and the possible long-term treatment effects of HDMP on SI.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology , Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin , Israel.
authors.forename: Revital
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gandelman-Marton
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurology , Assaf Harofeh Medical Center , Zerifin , Israel.
authors.forename: Aharon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arlazoroff
authors.affiliation: b The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Zeevi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dvir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: Methylprednisolone; Multiple sclerosis; Postural control; Posturography