A cross-sectional, multicentre study of the therapeutic management of multiple sclerosis relapses in Italy

作者：Annovazzi Pietro; Tomassini Valentina^*; Bodini Benedetta; Boffa Laura; Calabrese Massimiliano; Cocco Eleonora; Cordioli Cinzia; De Luca Giovanna; Frisullo Giovanni; Gallo Antonio; Malucchi Simona; Paolicelli Damiano; Pesci Ilaria; Radaelli Marta; Ragonese Paolo; Roccatagliata Luca; Tortorella Carla; Vercellino Marco; Zipoli Valentina; Gasperini Claudio; Rodegher Mariaemma; Solaro Claudio

来源：Neurological Sciences, 2013, 34(2): 197-203.

DOI：10.1007/s10072-012-0981-5

• Multiple sclerosis
• Relapse
• Corticosteroids
• Survey
• Management

Despite the existence of therapeutic guidelines, management of multiple sclerosis relapse remains heterogeneous. Optimisation of relapse outcome demands an improved understanding of the neurologist%26apos;s therapeutic attitude towards relapse management, which is the aim of this study. Neurologists from 13 multiple sclerosis centres completed a questionnaire every time they assessed multiple sclerosis relapses. The questionnaire requested a guided description of the relapse%26apos;s clinical characteristics and an indication of the prescribed therapy, supported with up to 3 out of 20 suggested reasons. Over 3 months, 368 questionnaires were collected. Median percentage (%) of 21 relapses resulting in a prescription was 88.9%. Corticosteroids represented the most frequent prescription. A short-course of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone was the most used corticosteroid (73.7%). Treatment was administrated mainly in day case unit (80.0%) and at home (13.6%). A tapered therapy was prescribed to 28.8% of patients. Neurologists%26apos; therapeutic decisions were driven mainly by relapse severity (45.3%) and symptom evolution (24.2%). Our study confirms the therapeutic attitude of multiple sclerosis specialists in treating relapses with high-dose intravenous corticosteroids in a day hospital setting, with a tapering in a proportion of cases. The main reasons for prescription are relapse severity and symptom evolution.

• 出版日期2013-2