Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
09:41

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Published on: July 19, 2019

12.0K

The Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score: fluctuations and prognostic ability in a longitudinal cohort of patients with

R H Gross1, S H Sillau1, A E Miller2

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.

Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical
|March 27, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) often changes in individual patients over time. This suggests caution is needed when using MSSS for predicting multiple sclerosis (MS) progression.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • The Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) is used to stratify multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by progression rate.
  • Its prognostic accuracy for individual patients is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the stability of MSSS in individual MS patients over time.
  • To identify factors influencing MSSS variability.
  • To evaluate MSSS's ability to predict future ambulatory function.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 122 MS patients followed for at least 8 years.
  • Mixed model regression to analyze MSSS changes over time.
  • Survival analysis and Cox modeling to assess factors influencing MSSS variability and prediction of ambulatory function (Timed 25-Foot Walk).

Main Results:

  • Over half (55.7%) of patients showed a change in MSSS by at least one decile from baseline.
  • Baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) showed a stronger correlation with future ambulatory function than baseline MSSS.
  • MSSS demonstrated a weaker correlation with future ambulatory function compared to EDSS.

Conclusions:

  • Individual MSSS scores frequently fluctuate over time in MS patients.
  • Clinicians should use caution when relying on MSSS for individual prognostication.
  • EDSS may be a more reliable predictor of long-term ambulatory function than MSSS.
Keywords:
EDSSMSSSOutcome measurementT25FWprogressive multiple sclerosis

More Related Videos

The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool11:35

The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool

Published on: June 30, 2014

58.7K
A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS08:18

A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS

Published on: December 26, 2015

18.1K

Related Concept Videos

Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.2K
Introduction to z Scores01:06

Introduction to z Scores

A z score (or standardized value) is measured in units of the standard deviation. It tells you how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a zero z score. It is important to note that the mean of the z scores is zero, and the standard deviation is one.
z scores...
11.0K
Introduction to z Scores01:05

Introduction to z Scores

A z score (or standardized value) is measured in units of the standard deviation. It indicates how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a zero z score. It is important to note that the mean of the z scores is zero, and the standard deviation is one.
z scores...
1.3K
z Scores and Area Under the Curve01:17

z Scores and Area Under the Curve

z scores are the standardized values obtained after converting a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution. A z score is measured in units of the standard deviation. The z score tells you how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a z score of...
18.4K
Longitudinal Studies01:26

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
494
z Scores and Unusual Values01:07

z Scores and Unusual Values

The z score is one of the three measures of relative standing. It describes the location of a value in a dataset relative to the mean. z scores are obtained after the standardization of the values in a dataset. The z score for the mean is 0.
 This score indicates how far a value is from the mean in terms of standard deviation. For example, if a data value has a z score of +1, the researcher can infer that the particular data value is one standard deviation above the mean. If another data...
11.0K