干扰素β-1b对多发性硬化患者生活质量影响的1年随访

目的观察干扰素β-1b(IFNβ-1b)治疗复发缓解型多发性硬化(MS)患者的疗效并进行生活质量评估,进一步探索生活质量的相关因素。方法选择接受IFNB-1b治疗的MS患者13例,并于治疗后第1个月、3个月、6个月、9个月、12个月对患者进行随访,评估包括扩展的功能缺损状况(EDSS)评分、多发性硬化患者生活质量量表(MSQOL-54)及汉密尔顿焦虑抑郁量表(HAMA、HAMD)评分。结果经IFNB1b治疗的MS患者在第1、3、6、9、12个月随访时生活质量、EDSS、HAMA、HAMD评分与治疗前比较均无明显变化(P0.05)。治疗前生活质量中躯体功能、性功能及对性生活满意度与EDSS评分呈负相关(P值均0.05);情绪致角色受限、疼痛与病程呈正相关(P值均0.05);躯体功能、情绪状况、社会功能、性功能及对性生活满意度与HAMA评分呈负相关(P值均0.05);认知、应激与HAMD评分均呈负相关(P值均0.05)。躯体致角色受限、精力、健康认知、总体生活质量及健康变化与病程、EDSS、HAMA、HAMD各项无相关性,年龄与MSQOL-54无关(P值均0.05)。结论 IFNB-1b短期内可能对MS患者生活质量无明显影响,生活质量与患者的EDSS评分、焦虑抑郁症状相关。     

多发性硬化患者外周血T淋巴细胞受体β链可变区多态性研究

目的探讨多发性硬化(MS)不同阶段外周血T淋巴细胞受体β链可变区(TCRVβ)多态性的特点。方法收集首都医科大学宣武医院神经内科临床孤立综合征(CIS)患者30例、复发-缓解型多发性硬化(RRMS)患者40例、继发-进展型多发性硬化(SPMS)患者10例、健康对照者30名,经TCRVβ单克隆抗体标记后采用流式细胞仪分析各组外周血TCRVβ扩增程度以及TCRVβ24个亚家族扩增患者百分比、扩增片段所占百分比的差异。结果 CIS、RRMS及SPMS组TCRVβ存在扩增患者比例、扩增个数和扩增分数均高于对照组(P0.01),而CIS、RRMS及SPMS组间比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。CIS、RRMS及SPMS组CD4+TCRVβ2扩增频率均高于对照组(P0.008),CIS组、RRMS及SPMS组CD8+TCRVβ11表达水平均低于对照组(P0.05),SPMS组CD4+TCRVβ21.3表达水平低于CIS组(P0.05)。ROC曲线分析提示CD8+TCRVβ11的扩增片段所占百分比对MS诊断具有一定价值,对MS分型无诊断价值;CD4+TCRVβ21.3的扩增片段所占百分比对SPMS诊断具有一定价值。结论可通过检测部分TCRVβ片段对MS及SPMS的早期诊断提供相关依据。     

静脉滴注免疫球蛋白治疗多发性硬化随机对照试验的meta分析

目的 系统评价静脉滴注免疫球蛋白(intravenous immunoglobulin,IVIG)维持治疗多发性硬化(multiple sclerosis,MS)的临床疗效.方法 采崩Cochrane系统评价方法,通过电子检索MEDLINE、EMbas、CBMdisc、Cochrane Library、ISI和美国临床试验登记中心等的数据库文献(1990～2008).评价纳入文献的方法学质量后,采用RevMan 4.2.10软件对提取的数据进行分析.结果 共纳入10个随机对照试验研究.IVIG治疗组与安慰剂组比较,研究期限内复发缓解型多发性硬化(relapsing-remitting muhiple sclerosis,RRMS)患者的复发状况差异有统计学意义(P=0.04,OR:0.40.95%CI=0.19～0.86),RRMS患者EDSS评分的变化差异有统计学意义(P＜0.0001,WMD=-0.27,95%CI=-0.40～-0.13),不同剂量IVIG(每个月0.2 g/kg与0.4 g/kg)治疗RRMS的复发状况比较差异无统计学意义(P=0.69,OR=1.16,95%CI=0.56～2.41);IVIG与干扰素-β1a治疗RRMS的疗效比较,显示二者均能降低疾病的复发率,二者之间无统计学差异(P＞0.1),而在治疗前后EDSS评分的比较中,仅IVIG治疗前后的差异有统计学意义.IVIG治疗组与安慰剂组比较,研究期限内进展型MS患者的疾病进展状况差异无统计学意义(P=0.32,OR=0.68,95%CI=0.31～1.46),继发进展型多发性硬化(secondary-progressivemultiple sclerosis,SPMS)患者的复发状况差异无统计学意义(P=0.70,OR=0.93,95%CI=0.66～1.32).结论 IVIG用于维持治疗MS,其安全性好,可降低RRMS的复发率及EDSS评分显示的神经功能障碍.不同剂量的IVIG治疗RRMS无剂量-效应关系.IVIG与干扰素-β1a均能降低RRMS的复发率,IVIG改善神经功能方面的疗效优于低剂量的干扰素-β1a.目前尚不能认为IVIG用于进展型MS的维持治疗可以阻止疾病的进展及复发.     

多发性硬化、临床孤立综合征患者脑脊液β-淀粉样肽水平及其意义研究

目的 探讨多发性硬化(MS)及其早期表现-临床孤立综合征(CIS)患者脑脊液β-淀粉样肽(Aβ42)表达水平及其与病程、神经功能缺失以及MRI T2高信号病灶数量的关系.方法 对33例MS患者、23例CIS患者及13例对照者进行研究,MS、CIS患者发作期进行扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分及MRI检查,采用液相芯片分析技术检测各组患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度.结果 MS、CIS患者发作期脑脊液Aβ42浓度与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但继发进展型MS(SPMS)患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度[(167.99±36.39)pg/mL]比复发缓解型MS(RRMS)患者[(92.74±13.64)pg/mL]高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.042).MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度与病程及EDSS评分无明显相关性(P>0.05).病程≥1年的MS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度比病程<1年的患者低,EDSS评分≥4.5分的MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度比EDSS评分<4.5分的患者低,但差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度与MRI T2高信号病灶数量呈正相关关系(MS患者:r=0.507.P=0.038;CIS患者:r=0.485,P=0.049).MRI T2高信号病灶总数≥4个的MS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度[(129.34±19.96)pg/mL]比病灶总数<4个的MS患者[(73.51±12.60)pg/mL]高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.049).结论 SPMS患者轴突损伤比RRMS患者严重;脑脊液Aβ42水平升高可能是MS病情进展的标记之一;MRI T2高信号病灶负荷可能与MS轴突损伤有关.     

多发性硬化患者血清维生素D水平变化及与临床相关性研究

目的观察多发性硬化(MS)患者体内维生素D水平,探讨维生素D水平与MS临床表型的关系。方法收集MS患者72例,包括复发缓解型MS(RRMS)62例、继发进展型MS(SPMS)7例及原发进展型MS(PPMS)3例;视神经脊髓炎(NMO)患者24例;以32名健康体检者为健康对照组(NC组)。采用电化学发光法对血清25-羟维生素D_3[25-hydroxyvitamin D_3,25(OH)D_3]进行检测,所有MS患者在留取血标本的同时进行扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分,对其中15例急性复发期RRMS患者在缓解期再次行血清25(OH)D_3检测和EDSS评分。结果 MS组、NC组及NMO组间血清25(OH)D_3水平比较差异有统计学意义(F=10.55,P0.01),MS组及NMO组均低于NC组(分别P0.01,P0.05),但MS组与NMO组相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05);SPMS患者血清25(OH)D_3水平低于NC组(P0.01),但与RRMS患者比较无统计学差异(P0.05);RRMS患者血清25(OH)D_3水平缓解期高于急性复发期(t=2.92,P0.05),但仍低于NC组(P0.01)。结论 MS及NMO患者体内维生素D不足,且维生素D不足贯穿于MS的不同病程阶段,RRMS患者急性复发期维生素D不足更为明显。     

多发性硬化患者糖皮质激素受体蛋白和mRNA表达与激素疗效的相关性

目的 检测多发性硬化(MS)患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)中糖皮质激素受体(GR)蛋白与mRNA亚型:GRα mRNA、GRβ mRNA的表达,探讨GR蛋白和GRα mRNA、GRβ mRNA的表达与甲泼尼龙静脉冲击治疗(IVMP)疗效间的关系.方法 采用放射配体结合法测定20例缓解复发型MS(RRMS)、6例继发进展型MS(SPMS)及26名健康对照GR蛋白数量;采用半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应法测定GRα mRNA、GRβ mRNA的表达,使用扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评价IVMP疗效.结果 (1)IVMP前RRMS和SPMS患者GR蛋白数量分别为(3.8±0.2)×103位点/细胞和(1.6±0.2)×103位点/细胞,均显著低于健康对照组[(4.2±0.8)×103位点/细胞,P＜0.05].RRMS患者IVMP前GR蛋白数量与EDSS呈线性负相关(r=-0.441,P=0.015).(2)以磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶的表达作为内参照,RRMS患者GRα mRNA的表达水平(0.792±0.177)与健康对照组(0.805±0.158)差异无统计学意义,而SPMS患者的表达水平(0.315±0.129)明显低于健康对照(P＜0.05).(3)RRMS和SPMS患者PBMC中均有GRβ mRNA的表达,健康对照组未检出GRβ mRNA表达.(4)RRMS、SPMS患者GRβ mRNA的表达分别占各自GRα mRNA的43.98%±2.40%和140.01%±78.75%.结论 RRMS患者GRβ mRNA的低水平表达不影响IVMP疗效.SPMS患者GRα mRNA表达水平显著降低和(或)GRβ mRNA表达水平显著升高导致GC抵抗.     

多发性硬化患者生活质量调查

目的观察多发性硬化(multiple sclerosis,MS)患者扩展残疾状况评分量表(expanded disability status scale,EDSS)评分、病程、年龄及性别与生活质量的关系,初步探讨影响MS患者生活质量的因素。方法对35例MS患者进行EDSS评分,填写MS专用生活质量(MSQOL-54)量表,分别对MS患者的EDSS评分、病程、年龄与MSQOL-54量表评分的相关性进行分析。结果 MS患者EDSS评分与生活质量呈负相关(r=-0.395,P=0.019),但为非线性关系;在MSQOL-54的14个领域中,身体健康状况、因身体问题引起的角色受限、活力、健康的自我感觉、社会功能及总体生活质量与EDSS评分具有相关性;EDSS评分与生活质量评分的"健康变化情况"及"性生活的满意度"无相关性(P=0.108,P=0.1 39);病程、年龄、性别与生活质量均无相关性(P0.05);EDSS评分与病程也无相关性(P=0.925)。结论 EDSS评分在MS早期较晚期更能预测患者生活质量,可作为早期MS患者生活质量的一个预测因子,从而指导临床医生早期关注患者生活质量并进行必要干预。     

吸烟对多发性硬化病人病情进展影响

目的探讨吸烟对多发性硬化(MS)病人病情进展的影响。方法从2005-01～2010-12,随访三所医院364例临床诊断为MS的病人,分为吸烟组、戒烟组和非吸烟组,根据临床和磁共振成像(MRI)特点,比较各组转化为继发进展型MS的比例、脑实质分数(BPF)和T2高密度病灶体积变化。结果吸烟组与非吸烟组相比,扩展残疾状态量表评分(EDSS)和多发性硬化严重程度评分(MSSS)增加,从复发缓解型MS(RRMS)向继发进展型MS(SPMS)的转化较快,T2加权病灶体积增加,BPF减少。结论研究提示吸烟对MS进展有不利影响,吸烟可加速RRMS向SPMS的转化。     

血清维生素D水平与多发性硬化的临床相关性研究

目的评估MS患者与健康对照体内血清维生素D3水平,以及影响MS患者预后神经功能缺损的相关因素。方法 86例缓解复发型多发性硬化(RRMS)患者和86例健康对照组随机纳入研究,评估并统计两组性别、年龄、维生素D3水平,记录患者组家族史、发病时间、病程、随诊期间复发情况。在入组时以及6 m后对患者组进行EDSS评分。结果患者组与健康对照组血清维生素D水平分别为14.70±12.49和20.90±13.00(P=0.002),具有显著统计学差异。患者组复发患者与未复发患者血清维生素D水平分别为9.77±7.86和16.83±13.54(P=0.003),具有显著统计学差异。EDSS评分与血清维生素D水平无明显相关性(r=-0.101,P=0.353)。EDSS评分与年龄(r=0.701,P<0.001)、病程(r=0.752,P<0.001)存在显著正相关关系。结论 MS患者血清维生素D水平显著低于健康对照组,同时与复发相关,但血清维生素D水平与患者预后神经功能缺损未显示相关关系。研究提示MS患者年龄越大、病程越长,患者预后越差。     

多发性硬化患者认知损害的检测及其影响因素分析

目的 了解多发性硬化(multiple sclerosis,MS)患者认知功能损害的特点及其影响因素.方法 对27例MS患者及27名正常对照者采用重复性成套神经心理状态测验(repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status,RBANS)量表进行认知功能评估,采用扩展残疾状态量表(expanded disability status scale,EDSS)评估残疾状态、抑郁自评量表(self-rating depression scale,SDS)和焦虑自评量表(self-rating anxiety scale,SAS)进行抑郁、焦虑状态评估.采用双侧T检验及非参数Mann-Whitney U检验分析患者与对照之间的评分差异;采用Pearson相关分析方法,探讨MS患者认知障碍评分与EDSS评分、病灶部位、临床特点以及情绪等因素的的相关性.结果 MS组与对照组比较,RBANS评分明显降低(分别为74.7±17.6和98.0 - 15.5),差别具有统计学意义(P=0.0013);评分降低的项目包括即时记忆、视觉广度、言语功能、注意和延迟记忆五个方面(P值均＜ 0.01).对MS临床分型进行进一步分析的结果提示:继发进展型(secondary progressive multiple sclerosis,SPMS)与缓解复发型(relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis,RRMS)比较,认知水平下降的程度更严重(P＜0.05).RBANS评分与EDSS、SDS评分及受教育程度具有相关性(Pearson相关系数分别为:-0.61、-0.42和0.54;P值分别为:0.0007,0.0275和0.0035),而与性别、年龄、病程、复发次数、SAS评分以及T2WI上病灶的部位之间无明显相关性.结论 MS患者认知损害的严重程度可能与临床类型、躯体残疾状态和情绪异常之间存在一定相关性.     

Fatigue, depression, and health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran

Background and purpose: Quality of life (QoL) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is worse than that of other chronic diseases. There is a need to examine the impact of fatigue and depression on the QoL independent of level of physical disability in MS. The aim of this study is to explore physical, psychological, and social aspects of health‐related QoL (HRQoL) of MS patients in association with physical disability, fatigue, and depression. Methods: In a cross‐sectional study, 281 (63.4% women, 36.6% men) patients with MS participated in the study. The HRQoL was assessed by the Persian version of the multiple sclerosis quality of life (MSQoL‐54) questionnaires. Other covariates included in the study were disease type, physical disability, fatigue, disease impact, and depression. Results: In univariate analysis disease type, physical disability, fatigue, disease impact, and depression were significantly associated with both physical and mental health composite summaries of MSQoL‐54. In multivariate regression analysis, patients’ physical disability remained significantly associated with both components of MSQoL‐54, whilst fatigue and depression were associated with physical and mental composite summaries, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MS‐related physical disability, fatigue, and depression affect the HRQoL of MS patients, independently of each other and other potential confounding factors. Effective interventions that target fatigue and depression may help improve the QoL of patients, regardless of their disease type and level of disability.     

Impact of depression and disability on quality of life in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can influence all aspects of a patient's health. This study determines the main factors affecting quality of life (QoL) in Iranian MS patients. QoL (Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale; MSIS-29), disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale; EDSS) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI) were assessed in 106 MS patients. EDSS, clinical course and MS duration significantly correlated with physical MSIS-29. Depression highly correlated with both physical and psychological MSIS-29. Regression analyses showed that depression and EDSS predicted physical health. Psychological health was predicted by depression. These findings highlight that depression and physical disability strongly influence QoL in Iranian MS patients.     

Health-related quality of life in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Common disability scales in multiple sclerosis (MS) are often weighted towards physical disability. Non-motor symptoms such as depression, fatigue and pain substantially influence wellbeing in MS. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures the broader impact of MS and might indicate less obvious disease burdens. We analysed HRQoL, using the Nottingham Health Profile Part I (NHP-I), among 345 secondary progressive MS (SPMS) patients participating in a randomized trial of interferon-beta1a (IFN-beta1a), 22 mug subcutaneously weekly, or matching placebo. The results did not reveal any beneficial effect of IFN-beta1a in any outcome measure. NHP-I sub- and sum scores were compared for 217 population controls and correlated with demographic and clinical disease variables. SPMS patients had lower NHP-I sum and all subscores than the controls. Patients experiencing disease progression reported worse NHP-I sum scores. Increased fatigue, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Arm Index scores were independently associated with reduction in several NHP-I subscores. SPMS patients had significantly lower HRQoL than controls and physical disability (EDSS and Arm Index), disease progression and fatigue strongly influenced this. MS.     

Quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis: the impact of fatigue and depression

Quality of Life (QOL) is impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS) in part due to physical disability. MS-associated fatigue (MSF) and depression (MSD) are common and treatable features of MS, which could also impact on QOL, independent of physical disability. We prospectively studied 60 consecutive patients with MS. QOL was assessed using Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL)-54. Group differences in QOL scores were assessed after adjusting for Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Hamilton Depression Inventory scores. MS patients were grouped into relapsing-remitting (RR) or secondary-progressive (SP), MSF (FSS> or =5) or MS-nonfatigue (MSNF) (FSS< or =4), and MSD or MS-nondepression (MSND). After accounting for disability and depression, fatigue was associated with impaired QOL with respect to health perception (p=0.03) and limitations due to physical dysfunction (p=0.008). After accounting for disability and fatigue, depression was associated with lower QOL with respect to health perception (p=0.02), sexual dysfunction (p=0.03), health distress (p=0.03), mental health (p=0.006), overall QOL (p=0.006), emotional dysfunction (p=0.04), and limitations due to emotional dysfunction (p=0.03). This study demonstrates that fatigue and depression are independently associated with impaired QOL in MS, after accounting for physical disability, suggesting that their recognition and treatment can potentially improve QOL.     

Factors influencing quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients: disability, depressive mood, fatigue and sleep quality

OBJECTIVES: In a series of 504 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), quality of life (QOL) and its main clinical and demographic determinants were assessed in comparison with healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A postal questionnaire with self-completed measures of disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS), QOL (Quality of Life Index, QLI), depressive mood (Self-rating Depression Scale, SDS), fatigue severity (Fatigue Severity Scale, FSS) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) was sent to this sample of MS patients. RESULTS: Most patients were severely disabled; almost half were mildly to severely depressed, suffering from reduced sleep quality and/or fatigue. The multiple sclerosis patients had significantly lower QLI scores than healthy controls. EDSS and SDS scores were found to be predictors of global QLI score. Regarding the different QLI domains, mean SDS scores remained predictive for all QLI items, while mean EDSS, PSQI and FSS scores were only predictive for physical domains. CONCLUSION: Our study clearly demonstrates that depressive mood is the main factor influencing QOL. The disability status, fatigue and reduced sleep quality have an impact mainly on physical domains of life quality.     

Difference between generic and multiple sclerosis-specific quality of life instruments regarding the assessment of treatment efficacy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and stressful disease, which significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) of patients. QoL instruments provide information which traditional outcome measures of MS do not. It is unclear if the longer disease-specific instruments provide more useful information than the shorter. We aimed to investigate whether there was any difference between general QoL instrument and MS-specific one on the basis of detecting the efficacy of pulse therapy. 112 clinically definite MS patients were included in the study. Patients enrolled in the study were in relapse period treated by 1 g/day methyl-prednisolone for 5 days. World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Form, Turkish Version (WHOQoL-BREF-TR) was given as a generic measure and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) as an MS-specific measure to assess the QoL. The same scales were administered 1 month after the therapy. MSQoL-54 was correlated with the EDSS in the pre-treatment period but WHOQoL-BREF was not. On day 30, there was a significant increase in both WHOQoL-BREF and MSQoL-54 scores. Increase was more prominent in MSQoL-54. There was a weak correlation between WHOQoL-BREF and MSQoL-54 (r=0.17). Correlation between changes in WHOQoL-BREF and MSQoL-54 scores was even weaker (r=0.11). Correlation between WHOQoL-BREF and EDSS was weaker (r=0.13), and correlation between MSQoL-54 and EDSS was still moderate (r=0.46) when compared with day 0. We concluded that although it takes a longer time to administer, MSQoL-54, as a MS-specific QoL instrument, is favorable and reliable for detecting the QoL not only in the remission but also in the relapse period of MS. Our results also indicated that MS-specific measure of QoL might be used for detecting the treatment effects in relapse period of patients with MS.     

Quality of life in multiple sclerosis: the impact of depression, fatigue and disability.

This study deals with the assessment of quality of life and its main clinical and demographical determinants in a clinical series of 103 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) (37 men; 66 women; mean age 44.89 years; mean disease duration 12.40 years; mean EDSS score 4.07). We used the MSQOL-54 inventory, a disease-specific instrument recently validated in an Italian population. Each patient underwent a complete clinical assessment, including that of disability status (Expanded Disability Status Scale), cognitive function (Mini Mental State Examination), depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) and fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale). In terms of Pearson's correlations, there was a moderate inverse relationship between disability level and the MSQOL-54 physical composite score, and a moderate to strong inverse correlation between depression or fatigue severity and both the physical and mental composite scores. In a stepwise linear regression analysis, depression, fatigue and disability level were confirmed to be significant and independent predictors of quality of life. Quality of life instruments can help to provide a broader measure of the disease impact and to develop a care program tailored to the patient's needs.     

Anxiety and depression influence the relation between disability status and quality of life in multiple sclerosis

Disability status, depression and anxiety are important determinants of quality of life (QoL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated whether anxiety and depression influence the relation between disability status and QoL in our cohort of recently diagnosed patients. Disability status [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)], anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)], and QoL (SF-36) were prospectively obtained in 101 MS patients. The relation between EDSS and SF-36 scales was examined using regression analyses, without and with adjustment for anxiety and depression. Interaction effects were investigated by comparing the relation between EDSS and QoL in patients with high and low anxiety and depression. In the unadjusted analyses, EDSS was significantly related to all SF-36 physical and mental health scales. After adjustment for anxiety and depression, EDSS was significantly related only to the SF-36 physical functioning, role-physical functioning and bodily pain scales. The relation between EDSS and these SF-36 scales was consistently higher in patients with more symptoms of anxiety or depression, suggesting that anxiety and depression strengthened the association of EDSS in these SF-36 physical health scales. After adjustment for anxiety and depression, EDSS was not significantly related to the SF-36 mental health scales and the general health scale. This finding is compatible with the hypothesis that anxiety and depression are intermediate factors in the association of EDSS with these SF-36 scales. Screening for symptoms of anxiety and depression is recommended in studies that use QoL as an outcome measure of treatment or intervention efficacy.     

A multidimensional assessment of multiple sclerosis: relationships between disability domains

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of a multidimensional assessment based on both task-related and self-evaluation questionnaire scores in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); ii) to correlate the results from selective measures with the severity of illness in terms of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score; iii) to assess the relationships between different domains of MS-related disability and handicap. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-three MS patients (M/F 31/52; age 43.26 +/- 10.9 years, range 21-72) underwent a standard clinical evaluation of motor abilities (by means of the Rivermead Mobility index, Timed Walking Test, Nine Hole Peg test and Hauser Ambulation Index) and cognitive performances (using Digit Symbol, Buschke-Fuld selective remind test, "FAS"-Word Fluency, Wisconsin Card Sorting test and Block design test). The Beck Depression inventory, MS Specific Fatigue Scale, Functional Assessment of MS and London Handicap Scale were applied to evaluate mood, fatigue, quality of life and handicap, respectively. Minimal Record of Disability measures - MRD (i.e. EDSS, Inability Status Scale and Environmental Status Scale) were also applied to test the criterion validity of the selected disability and handicap scales. The Kruskal-Wallis H-test for independent samples tested differences between subgroups with an increasing EDSS score (<3.5, 3.5-6.0, >6.0). The covariance and redundancy of measures included in the multidimensional assessment were evaluated through Factor Analysis. The Multiple Regression Analysis was used to detect the relative impact of either motor or cognitive disabilities and depression on handicap and quality of life. RESULTS: The multimodal assessment took 70 min on average to be performed, being well accepted by patients. Motor abilities worsened as the EDSS score rose, unlike cognitive performances which proved to be similarly impaired at different severity levels. Measures of fatigue and depression were not related to EDSS values. The chosen measures were assigned by Factor Analysis to 4 domains corresponding to motor performance, executive performance, cognitive abilities and quality of life, respectively. Regression analysis showed how handicap and depression independently affect quality of life. While the handicap score is mostly influenced by motor ability, as measured by the Rivermead Mobility Index, the depression score grows independently of any physical or cognitive disability and seems to be related to fatigue self-assessment scores. CONCLUSIONS: A multidimensional approach to MS patient assessment allows a more detailed and sensitive evaluation of their disability profile and perceived difficulties, leading to a care programme tailored to the patient's needs.     

Physical dimension of fatigue correlated with disability change over time in patients with multiple sclerosis

To determine the value of fatigue in predicting the change in disability status in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), we realized a prospective population-based cohort study of 196 patients with clinically definite MS. In 2002, baseline data were collected on fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), health-related quality of life (SF-36), and disability status (EDSS score). The EDSS scores were determined again at least three years later. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the predictive value of different dimensions of fatigue and other variables (depression and SF- 36) on the change in disability status. Of the 196 patients, 106 (54%) patients had an unchanged status or improvement and 90 (46%) showed a worsening of disability. After three years, with control for gender, age, and baseline disability status, a high baseline level of physical fatigue was associated with a worsening of disability status, whereas a low baseline level of physical fatigue was associated with the absence of worsening of the EDSS score. Other dimensions of fatigue, depression and SF-36 were not associated with a worsening of disability.A patient's perceived fatigue may be not only a clinically and psychosocially meaningful outcome but also a predictor of objective outcomes such as changes in disability status at three years.