Article

Cognition is frequently impaired in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The predictive value of cognitive impairment on disability is unknown. The
objective of this study was to correlate cognitive impairment and the progression
of disability over 7 years. Forty-five patients, recruited after MS diagnosis,
were followed for 7 years by yearly Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and
Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) evaluations and were classified as
cognitively impaired (CI) or unimpaired (CU) according to neuropsychological
testing at baseline. At baseline, 47.8% of patients were CI, with deficits in
mainly memory and information processing speed (IPS). The baseline EDSS
correlated significantly with one IPS test. The EDSS, but not the MSFC,
deteriorated significantly over the 7 years in the whole group and the CI group,
but not the CU group. A multivariate analysis showed correlations between the
EDSS change over 5 and 7 years and two baseline tests evaluating IPS and verbal
memory. The deterioration of the EDSS after 7 years was significantly correlated
with verbal memory testing at baseline after adjustment for age and baseline
EDSS. In conclusion, in this sample of MS patients early in the disease, the
baseline IPS and verbal memory impairments predict the EDSS score 5 and 7 years
later.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI