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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
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Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in multiple sclerosis.
Marziyeh Poorjavad1, Fatemeh Derakhshandeh, Masoud Etemadifar
1Isfahan Research Committee of Multiple Sclerosis, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|March 6, 2010
Summary
Swallowing disorders, or dysphagia, affect over 30% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Early assessment is crucial, especially for those with longer disease duration and greater neurological impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Dysphagia complications contribute to morbidity and mortality in advanced MS stages.
- Dysphagia in MS often lacks adequate clinical attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of various swallowing disorders in MS patients with mild to moderate disability.
- To identify associations between patient clinical/demographic features and dysphagia.
- To highlight the need for dysphagia assessment in MS care.
Main Methods:
- Screening of swallowing function in 101 consecutive MS patients using the Northwestern Dysphagia Patient Check Sheet.
- The screening tool identifies pharyngeal stage disorders, aspiration, oral stage disorders, and pharyngeal delay.
- Dysphagia was defined as the presence of at least one of these four disorders.
Main Results:
- 31.7% of MS patients screened had dysphagia.
- Pharyngeal stage disorders were most common (28.7%), followed by aspiration (6.9%), oral stage disorders (5%), and pharyngeal delay (1%).
- Dysphagia correlated significantly with longer disease duration, greater cerebellar impairment, and higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.
Conclusions:
- Dysphagia is a significant issue in MS patients, even with mild to moderate disability.
- Assessment and management of swallowing function are critical for MS patients.
- Particular attention should be paid to MS patients with high EDSS scores, severe cerebellar dysfunction, and long disease duration.
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