title: Do evoked potentials contribute to the functional follow-up and clinical prognosis of multiple sclerosis?
abstract: The clinical variability and complexity of multiple sclerosis (MS) challenges the individual clinical course prognostication. This study aimed to find out whether multimodal evoked potentials (EP) correlate with the motor components of multiple sclerosis functional composite (MSFCm) and predict clinically relevant motor functional deterioration. One hundred MS patients were assessed at baseline (T0) and about 7.5 years later (T1), with visual, somatosensory and motor EP and rated on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the MSFCm, including the 9 Hole Peg Test and the Timed 25 Foot Walk (T25FW). The Spearman correlation coefficient (rS) was used to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between EP Z scores and clinical findings. The predictive value of baseline electrophysiological data for clinical worsening (EDSS, 9-HPT, T25FW, MSFCm) during follow-up was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Unlike longitudinal correlations, cross-sectional correlations between EP Z scores and clinical outcomes were all significant and ranged between 0.22 and 0.67 (p < 0.05). The global EP Z score was systematically predictive of EDSS and MSFCm worsening over time (all p < 0.05). EP latency was a better predictor than amplitude, although weaker than latency and amplitude aggregation in the global EP Z score. The study demonstrates that EP numerical scores can be used for motor function monitoring and outcome prediction in patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Liege, Rue Grandfosse 31-33, 4130, Esneux, Belgium. xgiffroy@chu.ulg.ac.be.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital of Liege, B35, 4000, Liège, Belgium. xgiffroy@chu.ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Giffroy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Medico-Economic Information, University Hospital (CHU, ULg) of Liege, B35, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Medico-Economic Information, University Hospital (CHU, ULg) of Liege, B35, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adelin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Liege, Rue Grandfosse 31-33, 4130, Esneux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maquet
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital of Liege, B35, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Crielaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Liege, Rue Grandfosse 31-33, 4130, Esneux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dive
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; 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; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Disability; Multimodal evoked potentials; Multiple sclerosis; Prognosis