Abnormal eye movements also are common in multiple sclerosis, but quantitative assessment methods that can be applied in practice and clinical trials are not readily available.
This geographically based, systematically ascertained study of some 28 000 patient-years of essentially untreated multiple sclerosis completes our assessment of the relationship of relapses to hard long-term outcome measures.
Four CAD systems (applied to the bone age assessment, Multiple Sclerosis detection, lung nodule detection, and pneumothorax measurement) developed in our laboratory are given as examples of how consecutive stages are developed by the multidisciplinary team.
Examples include: ACR 20 for assessment of rheumatology diseases, EDSS for assessment of multiple sclerosis, or HAM-D for major depressive disorder.
We summarize the evolution of the role of vision assessment in multiple sclerosis and provide principles that help us understand the importance of vision as a model for outcomes assessment in the next generation of therapeutic trials.
FAMS Functional Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis; EQ-5D EuroQoL, EQ VAS Visual Analogue Scale, M-FIS Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, BDI-II Beck Depression Inventory, MSFC: Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite.
EDSS Extended Disability Symptom Scale, EQ-5D EuroQoL, EQ VAS Visual Analogue Scale, FAMS Functional Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis, MSFC Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite, M-FIS Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, BDI-II Beck Depression Inventory.
Initial assessment included the application of three previously validated instruments to evaluate 1) clinical status (Expanded Disability Status Scale), 2) pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and 3) quality of life (Functional Assessment of multiple Sclerosis).
Quality of life was also assessed prior to the initiation of treatment, as well as after three and six months; it was measured by the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) instrument, validated for Portuguese [ 24, 25].
Finally, participants completed self-reported instruments for depression (German version of the 'Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scalee, ADS-L, 40), fatigue (the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, MFIS 41) and quality of life (Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis, FAMS 42).
