Discriminant analysis of the cognitive performance profile of MS patients differentiates their clinical course

Abstract

Objective: To compare the neuropsychological deficits of primary progressive multiple sclerosis with those of relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Methods: Sixty-five patients with different clinical courses of MS were neuropsychologically tested for language, attention, memory and executive functions. Discriminant analysis was used to predict the type of clinical course either by clinical variables (age, EDSS and duration of illness) or neuropsychological test results.

Results: For single neuropsychological tests, group differences were rare between the progressive courses and the relapsing-remitting course of MS or absent between the progressive courses of MS. However, discriminant analysis correctly identified 87.7 percent of the patients' courses in general, and about 90 percent of the patients with chronic progressive MS.

Conclusion: Using discriminant analysis, this study found neuropsychological impairment characteristic for relapsing remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive patients.