Combined evoked potentials as markers and predictors of disability in early multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess combined evoked potentials (EP) as markers and predictors of the disease course of early MS over 3years. METHODS: Fifty patients in the early phase of relapsing remitting MS prospectively received visual, somatosensory and motor EP and EDSS assessments at baseline (T1) and at 6months intervals during 3years. Spearman rank correlation was used to determine the relationship between z-transformed EP-latencies (z-EPL) and EDSS. Multivariable linear regression was performed to predict EDSS at year 3 (T7) in function of z-EPL(T1). Validity of the models was assessed using group cross-validation. RESULTS: At each of the seven points in time, EDSS correlated with the sum of z-EPL (0.64rho0.79, p0.70, p>0.001, for both measures). CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal EPs correlate well with clinical disability in cross-sectional and longitudinal comparison in early MS and allow prediction of disease evolution over 3years. SIGNIFICANCE: EPs seem well suited as markers of the disease course in early MS in clinical trials and bear potential for supporting decision-finding in individual patients