MS research update - 05 March 2010
- Poor recovery after early attacks linked to progression five years after onset
- People with MS have higher risk of other medical conditions
- Resistance training improves mood and fatigue in people with MS
Poor recovery after early attacks linked to progression five years after onset
MS is a highly variable and unpredictable condition. Forecasting the probable course of the condition for an individual remains a challenge. This study investigated the relative importance of several risk factors for progression in MS and their relationship to disability progression after five years of onset.
The study was based on analysis of the medical records for 207 people with relapsing remitting MS. The risk factors researchers were looking to identify were: 1) age greater than 40 at first attack; 2) more than two attacks in the two years from onset; 3) an EDSS greater than 1.5 after the first attack (signifying poor recovery); 4) male gender; and 5) motor symptoms at onset. Individuals were divided into one of two groups - one group consisted of people with few risk factors (0-2) while a second group consisted of people who had many (3-5) of the risk factors.
Analysis of the records and risk factors revealed that the single most predictive factor of disability progression five years after onset of MS was a poor recovery from the first two attacks or relapses. A greater number of risk factors was also linked with increased disability progression five years after onset.
Scott TF, Schramke CJ.
Poor recovery after the first two attacks of multiple sclerosis is associated with poor outcome five years later.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences 2010; [Epub ahead of print].
Medline abstract
People with MS have higher risk of other medical conditions
Cormobidity is a term used to describe the simultaneous existence of two medical conditions usually independent of each other. This study investigated whether people with MS were more at risk of comorbidity than randomly matched individuals without MS in a Chinese population.
Thirty medical conditions were selected for analysis. Analysis of 898 people with MS and 4,490 matched controls indicated that people with MS were at higher risk of systemic lupus erythematosus, depression, peripheral vascular disorders, deficiency anemias, rheumatoid arthritis, and fluid and electrolyte disorders.
Kang JH, Chen YH, Lin HC.
Comorbidities amongst patients with multiple sclerosis: a population-based controlled study.
European Journal of Neurology 2010; [Epub ahead of print].
Medline abstract
Resistance training improves mood and fatigue in people with MS
There is an increasing amount of research to suggest that exercise benefits people with MS. This study investigated the effects of a progressive resistance training programme on fatigue, mood, and quality of life scores in people with MS.
31 people with MS took part in the study - 16 people were assigned to a 12-week progressive resistance exercise programme, 15 people did not take part in the exercise programme. Participants were assessed for mood, fatigue and quality of life at the start, end, and 12 weeks after the end of the programme. The people who undertook the training showed significant improvements in mood, fatigue and quality of life at the end of the programme and these improvements were maintained 12 weeks after the end of the study.
Dalgas U, Stenager E, Jakobsen J, et al.
Fatigue, mood, and quality of life improve in MS patients after progressive resistance training.
Multiple Sclerosis 2010; [Epub ahead of print].
Medline abstract