MS Relapses and Long-Term Worsening of Disability

Investigators sought to determine the influence of relapses on disability worsening in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the MS Functional Composite (MSFC), using a single-center clinical database that included annual assessments of patients seen since 2004.

Of 480 patients with relapsing-remitting MS or clinically isolated syndrome, 407 had complete visits through year 5 and 372 through year 10. Worsening EDSS score at the annual visit occurred in 30% of those with a relapse and 23% of those with no identified relapse. At the following confirmation year, EDSS worsening was not different between those with versus those without relapses. Relapses in the first 6 years were unrela…