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Examining the Progression of Fatigue in MS

Mult Scler; 2018 Jun; van der Vuurst de Vries, et al

Publish date:

Fatigue, reported by >75% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, is often present at time of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and probably persists over time and increases after a second attack, according to a recent study. 235 CIS patients, aged 18–50 years, were prospectively followed. Patients filled in the Krupp’s Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and annually. After reaching clinically definite MS diagnosis (CDMS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was obtained annually. Researchers found:

  • Fatigue at baseline was an independent predictor for CDMS diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.6).
  • The evolution of FSS was the same in CIS patients who remained monophasic and patients who were diagnosed with CDMS during follow-up.
  • However, FSS increased by 0.86 units after reaching CDMS diagnosis.
  • After this increase, the FSS course remained unaltered.
Citation:

van der Vuurst de Vries RM, van den Dorpel JJA, Mescheriakova JY, et al. Fatigue after a first attack of suspected multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2018;24(7):974-981. doi:10.1177/1352458517709348.

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