Skip to main content

Table 3 Criteria for a clinical relapse and application of MRI for judgement for a relapse

From: Insights on diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making patterns for multiple sclerosis treatment: cross-sectional opinion survey results from Japanese neurologists

Questions and answers

Overall

(n = 205)

Sub-group by the number of MS patients under care

P value

Group 1:

1–3 patients (n = 69)

Group 2:

4–9 patients (n = 58)

Group 3:

≥10 patients (n = 78)

Group comparison*

Trend test

Question 1: Do any of the following constitute a clinical relapse in your practice (in the absence of comorbidities, such as acute infection)?

a. New/worsening symptoms lasting > 24 h, no neurological exam performed, n (%)

98 (47.8)

29 (42.0)

31 (53.4)

38 (48.7)

0.199a

0.416b

0.585c

0.437

b. New/worsening symptoms lasting > 24 h, no change in neurological exam, n (%)

106 (51.7)

29 (42.0)

34 (58.6)

43 (55.1)

0.063a

0.113b

0.684c

0.122

c. New/worsening symptoms lasting > 24 h and worsening neurological exam, n (%)

201 (98.0)

67 (97.1)

57 (98.3)

77 (98.7)

0.664a

0.489b

0.832c

0.483

Question 2: In a patient presenting with a clinical relapse based on your definition of a relapse, do you usually order an MRI scan?

Yes, n (%)

205 (100.0)

69 (100.0)

58 (100.0)

78 (100.0)

Question 3: Does the appearance of new asymptomatic MRI activity constitute the equivalent of a clinical relapse?

Yes, n (%)

130 (63.4)

43 (62.3)

38 (65.5)

49 (62.8)

0.709a

0.950b

0.746c

0.960

  1. MRI magnetic resonance imaging, MS multiple sclerosis
  2. *Percentages were compared between two groups using the chi-square test, and the corresponding P values are indicated for the following comparisons: a: Group 1 vs. Group 2, b: Group 1 vs. Group 3, c: Group 2 vs. Group 3
  3. The trend across the three groups was tested using the Cochran-Armitage test