Effect of comorbidities on the course of multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The clinical condition of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients depends not only on the course of MS but also on their lifestyle and comorbidities. This study aimed to assess the effect of selected comorbidities, lifestyle-related factors and clinical data available at the time of MS diagnosis, on the disease activity and the disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Patients And Methods: Based on clinical relapses over a period of 12 months of observation and the results of MRI scans, 138 patients with RRMS were qualified into two groups: 'active' or 'stable' course of the disease.

Diagnostic methods used in searching for markers of atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Unlabelled: The results of available studies on assessment of neurodegenerative lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using different approaches have not been conclusive. Currently, clinical assessment is the most commonly used (involving primarily mobility assessment), along with magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological testing. In this review we describe available clinical, neuroimaging, electrophysiological and laboratory tests used to assess the neurodegeneration in MS.

Transcranial sonography of subcortical structures in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Transcranial sonography may be applied to assess the basal ganglia nuclei and brain atrophy by the measurement of the width of the third ventricle. The aim of this study was to assess usefulness of transcranial sonography (TCS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by examining the echogenicity of subcortical structures and the width of the third ventricle.

Method: Transcranial sonography evaluation of substantia nigra, brain stem raphe nuclei, diameter of the third ventricle, width of the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle, thalamus, lenticular nucleus, and head of the caudate nucleus in 41 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 23 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and 20 healthy controls was compared.