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Abstract

Standardization of terminology used to describe the pattern and course of MS is essential for mutual understanding between clinicians and investigators.It is particularly important in design of, and recruitment for, clinical trials statistically powered for expected outcomes for given patient populations with narrowly defined entry criteria. For agents that prove safe and effective for MS, knowledge of the patient populations in definitive clinical trials assists clinicians in determining who may ultimately benefit from use of the medication. An international survey of clinicians involved with MS revealed areas of consensus about some terms classically used to describe types of the disease and other areas for which there was lack of consensus. In this report, we provide a summary of the survey results and propose standardized definitions for the most common clinical courses of patients with MS.
NEUROLOGY 1996;46: 907-911

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Published In

Neurology®
Volume 46Number 4April 1996
Pages: 907-911
PubMed: 8780061

Publication History

Published online: April 1, 1996
Published in print: April 1996

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Authors

Affiliations & Disclosures

Stephen C. Reingold, PhD
National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA) Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials of New Agents in Multiple Sclerosis*
*See page 910 for Committee members.
From the Department of Neurology (Dr. Lublin), Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA; and the Research and Medical Programs Department (Dr. Reingold), National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA), New York, NY.
Received August 9, 1995. Accepted in final form August 18, 1995.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Lublin, Department of Neurology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA.

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