Correlations between multiple sclerosis functional composite, expanded disability status scale and health-related quality of life during and after treatment of relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis

The measurement of the clinical manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS) is difficult. In the present study, we examined the changes in measurement of functions during and after pulse methylprednisolon (MP) treatment of MS exacerbations using the MSFC and EDSS. Correlation between multiple sclerosis quality of life (MSQoL)-54, EDSS and MSFC were studied. Thirty-six clinically definite MS patients were included in this study. Because of MSFC's repeating feature, we administered the tests to a control group to exclude practise effects. All patients received 1000-mg intravenous MP for 5 days, followed by tappering dose of 100-mg oral prednisolone. All three scales were assessed on day 0. EDSS and two components of MSFC (nine HPT and T25WT) were administered on the other days of pulse MP treatment. PASAT was not applied before the day 5 to exclude the practise effect. MSQoL-54 was assessed again on day 30. Mean EDSS values significantly decreased after the day 2. MSFC score improved from 0.03 +/- 1.71 on day 0 to 0.79 +/- 1.51 on day 5. Improvement continued on day 30. The mean physical health composite score increased from 66.50 +/- 9.3 on day 0 to 74.34 +/- 8.9 on day 30. Mental health composite had also a significant improvement on day 30. Correlation between the baseline overall MSFC and the EDSS was moderately strong. T25WT correlated most strongly with EDSS. Significant positive correlation was found between MSFC and both components of MSQoL-54. It is more prominent for the MSFC and physical health composite correlation. The same correlation was found for the EDSS and MSQoL-54 composites. Changes in EDSS and MSFC scores and MSQoL-54 were found significantly correlated for the overall score on day 30 compared with day 0. In conclusion, MSFC seems to be more sensitive in detecting changes in function than the EDSS. Hence, EDSS is still useful for daily routine practise. When these results combined with the significant correlation between MSFC and MSQoL-54 measures, which indicated the MSFC reflects the severity of MS as perceived by patients, MSFC seems to be the most useful scale for clinical trials. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.