Evaluation of Response to Relapse Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis According to Relapse Characteristics

Objective: Relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were evaluated based on symptom characteristics, treatment response, and recovery rates.These factors were evaluated before and after relapse treatment, as well as at the first-and sixth-months following treatment. Materials and Methods:Patient's physical status was evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status scale (EDSS).Based on the characteristics of their relapses, patients were categorized as either monosymptomatic or polysymptomatic.Treatment response was then analyzed according to these groupings. Results:The study included 59 MS patients, with a mean age of 33.698.28years (46 females, 13 males).Based on relapse symptom characteristics, 27.1% of patients had polysymptomatic relapses, while 72.9% were monosymptomatic.A total of 23 patients experienced monosymptomatic relapses.Regarding specific relapse symptoms, 66.1% presented with sensory symptoms, 47.5% with motor symptoms, 32.2% with optic neuritis (ON), 6.8% with cerebellar signs, 35.6% with brainstem involvement, and 13.6% with sphincter symptoms.Significant improvement following treatment was observed in patients with brainstem involvement and in the ON group (p=0.04 and p=0.039, respectively).However, no significant difference in EDSS scores was noted at 1 and 6 months posttreatment (p=0.068 and p=0.194, respectively).In the sensory involvement group, the mean EDSS score was 2.651.24before treatment, 2.050.76 after treatment, 1.850.81at 1 month, and 1.550.98 at 6 months, indicating significant improvement (p=0.04 and p=0.041, respectively). Conclusion:Both ON and sensory involvement were associated with favorable prognosis.While significant improvement n EDSS was noted in the ON group before and after treatment, this improvement was not sustained at the first and sixth months.In contrast, patients with sensory involvement demonstrated continuous and significant improvement across all time points-before treatment, after treatment, and at 1 and 6 months.These findings highlight the importance of addressing sensory relapses and their potential for sustained recovery.