Clinical evaluation of patients with multiple sclerosis Review article

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Waldemar Brola
Małgorzata Fudala
Józef Opara

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease causing disability and decreasing the quality of life. Heterogenity of the clinical symptoms makes assessment of activity of nervous system a complex issue. Some of the frequent symptoms of the MS (visual disturbances, fatigue, pain or decline of cognitive functions) are extremely difficult to assess with standard clinical tests. Commonly used Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) does not fulfill all the requirements. That is why National MS Society in the USA recommended the MS Functional Composite (MSFC). MS Society suggested to utilize a sensitive test of contrast discrimination with the Pelli-Robson method (Low-Contrast Sloan Letter Chart Testing-Binocular) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) – a test measuring the cognitive functions. All new clinical methods serve the objectification of assessment of MS patients and show correlation with results in EDSS scale and NMR test. They can also be performed by average medical staff, while EDSS requires supervision of an experienced doctor.

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References

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