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The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
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Defining Disease Activity and Response to Therapy in MS
Ulrike W Kaunzner1, Mais Al-Kawaz2, Susan A Gauthier3
1Judith Jaffe Multiple Sclerosis Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Avenue, New York City, NY, 10021, USA.
Current Treatment Options in Neurology
|April 29, 2017
Summary
This review examines clinical and imaging markers for monitoring multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity. It provides recommendations for assessing therapeutic response in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity traditionally relies on new neurological symptoms and relapse rates.
- Clinical markers assessing ambulation, dexterity, and cognition refine disease activity assessment.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for investigating MS disease activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of common clinical and imaging markers for monitoring MS disease activity.
- To emphasize the utilization of these markers in clinical studies.
- To offer recommendations for their application in clinical practice to assess therapeutic response.
Main Methods:
- Review of established clinical assessment tools for neurological function.
- Analysis of MRI-derived metrics such as lesion count and brain atrophy.
- Synthesis of current literature on marker utility in multiple sclerosis clinical trials.
Main Results:
- Clinical and MRI markers offer refined assessments of disease activity beyond traditional measures.
- Lesion burden and brain atrophy on MRI serve as surrogate outcomes in clinical trials.
- Therapeutic strategies aim to minimize inflammation, reduce relapse rates, and prevent disability.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive approach integrating clinical and imaging markers is essential for accurate MS disease activity monitoring.
- Standardized use of these markers in clinical practice can optimize the assessment of treatment efficacy.
- Continued research is needed to further refine and validate outcome measures in multiple sclerosis.
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