title: Early disturbances in multimodal evoked potentials as a prognostic factor for long-term disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether early alterations in evoked potentials (EPs) have a prognostic value in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
  
  
  
  We retrospectively selected 108 early MS patients with a neurological follow-up ranging from 5 to 15years, in whom multimodal EPs (visual, brainstem auditory, somatosensory and motor) were performed at diagnosis. A conventional ordinal score was used to quantify the observed abnormalities.
  
  
  
  The extent of change in the composite EP score was well correlated to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at ten years (Y10) and up to 15years (Y11-15) after disease onset. Analysis of the predictive value of the EP score showed an increased risk of disability progression at Y10and Y11-15of 60% (p<0.0001) and 73% (p<0.0001) respectively in patients with an EP score >4. Conversely, the risk of disability progression at Y10and Y11-15associated with a lower EP score (⩽4) was reduced to 16% and 20% respectively.
  
  
  
  Our data support the good predictive value for long-term disability progression of multimodal EPs performed early after disease onset in RRMS patients.
  
  
  
  This study, performed in a homogeneous RRMS cohort with long term follow-up, demonstrates the value of an early comprehensive neurophysiological assessment as a marker for future disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: London
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Souraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Sankari
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, 10 Avenue Hippocrate, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: vincent.vanpesch@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van Pesch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Disability; EDSS; Multimodal evoked potentials; Multiple sclerosis; Predictive value