Use of EDMUS to analyze 199 patients with multiple sclerosis

European Database Multiple Sclerosis (EDMUS) is a standardized tool which a llows the collection of clinical, biological, radiological and therapeutic data on multiple sclerosis (MS). A descriptive analysis of 199 patients was done using EDMUS (version 2.2). Most data agreed with previous published r esults, except a low 0.4 sex ratio. At the beginning of MS, 42p. 100 of MS patients developed pyramidal and sensory involvments and 14p. 100 retrobulb ar optic neuritis. Optic neuritis was the most frequent initial symptom of relapsing-remitting MS (25.9p. 100) but not in the chronic progressive form (5.5p. 100; p<0,01). Surprisingly, relapsing-remitting form occurred more frequently whereas the secondary progressive form was diagnosed less. The c oncordances between the three disability scales, EGS (EDMUS Grading Scale), EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Score) and Al (Hauser Ambulation index) w ere correct. In clinical practice, EDMUS is user-friendly and rapid. The lack of radiolo gical data and the necessary quantification of only one disability scale, E GS may be too restrictive. The analysis of most of clinical data is possibl e by using integrated selection within the software, but sometimes needs mo re complex procedures.