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[Effect of methylprednisolone on the attention in patients with multiple sclerosis]
Alina Kułakowska1, Dorota Halicka, Wiesław Drozdowski
1Akademia Medyczna w Białymstoku: Klinika Neurologii. alakul@amb.edu.pl
Unlabelled:
The aim of the study was to examine effects of high doses of intravenous methylprednisolone (MP, 1 g daily, for 5 days) on the sustained attention and attention focusing in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with clinical relapse.
Material And Methods:
Thirty four relapsing-remitting patients were included. The mean age was 39.4 (20-56) years, mean disease duration and mean Expanded Disability Status Scale scores were 6.6 (0.8-18) years and 4.1 (2.0-6.0), respectively. MS patients underwent psychological testing three times: before and immediately after MP treatment, and 6 months later. The trials: "100-7" and "months of year backwards", The Brickenkamp d2 test, and The Visual Continuous Attention Test (DAUF) were used. Thirty two control subjects (mean age 37.2 years) with ischialgia, not receiving steroids, underwent the same testing procedure two times: at admission and on 6th day of hospitalization.
Results:
Before and immediately after MP treatment MS patient obtained significantly worse scores than controls on the DAUF test (significantly decreased number of correct reactions (p<0.05), significantly increased number of incorrect reactions (p<0.05), and significantly increased mean value of reaction times (p<0.05)). There were no significant differences within MS and control subjects on other tests. Therapy with MP did not markedly change an ability to focus attention and keep the concentration over long period of time in MS patients.
Conclusions:
MS subjects show disturbances in the sustained attention. Therapy with MP does not significantly change the sustained attention and attention focusing in MS patients.
Insights
High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) treatment did not significantly improve sustained attention or attention focusing in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients experiencing relapses, despite observed attention deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychology
Context:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting young adults.
- Clinical relapses in MS often involve cognitive impairments, including attention deficits.
- High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) is a common treatment for MS relapses.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effects of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) on sustained attention and attention focusing in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during clinical relapse.
- To compare the cognitive performance of MS patients undergoing MP treatment with a control group.
Summary:
- MS patients with clinical relapse exhibited significant deficits in sustained attention and attention focusing compared to controls, as measured by the DAUF test.
- High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) therapy (1 g daily for 5 days) did not lead to significant improvements in sustained attention or attention focusing in MS patients.
- No significant differences were found between MS patients and controls on other cognitive tests, and MP therapy did not markedly alter attention abilities.
Impact:
- This study suggests that high-dose intravenous MP, while crucial for managing MS relapses, may not effectively address the specific cognitive deficits in sustained attention and attention focusing.
- Findings highlight the need for further research into alternative or adjunctive therapies targeting cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.
- Understanding the limitations of MP in cognitive recovery can inform clinical management and patient expectations regarding neurological recovery post-relapse.
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