Results from a multiple sclerosis relapse clinic

Abstract

Background: A multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse clinic can lead to early diagnosis and management of MS relapses, yet published outcomes from MS relapse clinics are scarce.

Methods: We analysed the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) relapse clinic over a 12 month period.

Results: Only 16 % of attendees were diagnosed with a relapse, defined as new neurological symptoms with radiological evidence of new disease activity. Pseudorelapse was a more common cause of presentation (19 %) than relapse. Corticosteroid therapy was administered in 3 % of all attendances.

Conclusions: This low figure highlights the importance of clinical evaluation of new symptoms, justifies caution in corticosteroid prescribing and may reflect the impact of highly-effective therapies. We encourage other groups to publish their relapse clinic findings to best characterise the frequency of relapses and the utility of such services using real world data.

Keywords: MS; Multiple sclerosis; Pseudorelapse; Relapse; Relapse clinic.