Posturography in MS patients treated with high dose methylprednisolone

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting balance and mobility.
• Acute relapses in MS can lead to significant functional decline.
• High-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) is a common treatment for acute MS relapses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the sensitivity of the balance sway index (SI) to functional changes induced by HDMP during acute MS relapse.
• To compare SI in MS patients and healthy controls before and after HDMP treatment.

Main Methods:

• Dynamic posturography was employed to calculate the SI.
• 11 healthy subjects and 13 MS patients were evaluated before and after intravenous HDMP administration.
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were also recorded.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited higher SI than controls, irrespective of HDMP treatment (p < 0.008).
• HDMP did not significantly alter SI in MS patients during acute relapse.
• EDSS scores improved post-HDMP (p < 0.001), particularly in patients with pyramidal and cerebellar deficits.

Conclusions:

• The SI derived from dynamic posturography is not a sensitive measure for short-term functional changes following HDMP in relapsing MS.
• Further investigation is warranted for modified balance protocols and long-term HDMP effects on SI in MS.