[New tools for early detection of multiple sclerosis progression: MSProDiscuss questionnaire].

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Diagnosing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is challenging due to the lack of objective markers for disease progression.
• Current diagnostic methods can lead to prolonged uncertainty, delaying crucial therapeutic interventions.
• Physicians require a practical tool for rapid and reliable SPMS risk assessment in routine clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a tool for objective and timely diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS).
• To create an easy-to-use questionnaire for assessing SPMS progression risks, facilitating patient-physician communication.
• To address the unmet need for a reliable method to differentiate between relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and SPMS.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of extensive clinical data (3294 cases) and patient/specialist surveys to identify key progression indicators.
• Development and validation of a mathematical model and an electronic questionnaire (MSProDiscuss).
• Evaluation of test sensitivity (0.82), specificity (0.84), and interrater reliability (0.95).

Main Results:

• The MSProDiscuss questionnaire demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for SPMS.
• The tool showed excellent interrater reliability (0.95) and was completed in a median of 2.16 minutes.
• Physicians in the Russian Federation confirmed the questionnaire's high feasibility in clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• The MSProDiscuss questionnaire offers a sensitive, specific, and reproducible method for SPMS diagnosis.
• This tool can significantly reduce diagnostic uncertainty and support timely treatment decisions.
• MSProDiscuss is valuable for differential diagnosis and predicting progression risk in multiple sclerosis patients.