Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39666117›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2024

Spasticity patterns assessment and recognition for therapeutic approaches (SPARTA) in multiple sclerosis: a multicenter epidemiological study.

Paolo De Blasiis, Andrea Massimiani, Cristina Inglese, Edoardo Bianchini, Allegra Fullin, Ciro Ivan De Girolamo, Morena Giovannelli, Massimiliano Pau, Eleonora Cocco, Marco Salvetti and 1 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Evaluation of the Wisconsin Gait Scale in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Spastic Hemiplegia.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Paolo De BlasiisDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100, Potenza, Italy. paolo.deblasiis@unibas.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1317-7994
Andrea MassimianiDepartment of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Cristina IngleseMultiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy.
Edoardo BianchiniDepartment of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Allegra FullinDepartment of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy.
Ciro Ivan De GirolamoDepartment of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy.
Morena GiovannelliDepartment of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Massimiliano PauDepartment of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123, Cagliari, Italy.
Eleonora CoccoMultiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy.
Marco SalvettiDepartment of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Giacomo LusDepartment of Advanced Medical and Surgery Science, Multiple Sclerosis Center, II Division of Neurology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80131, Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpasticity and muscle weakness are the most disabling symptoms in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), frequently affecting lower limbs and causing motor impairments, fatigue and increased risk of falls. Previous epidemiological studies on pwMS reported prevalence of spasticity and other symptoms but scarce information is available about combined patterns of muscle weakness and spasticity, symmetry and regional localization.

objectivesTo describe the prevalent combined patterns of muscle weakness and spasticity in pwMS in order to focus attention on their functional balance before spasticity treatment.

methodspwMS with lower limb spasticity, 3.5 ≤ Expanded-Disability-Status Scale (EDSS) ≤ 6.5 were recruited. Data regarding muscle weakness and spasticity, symmetry and involvement of other functional systems were collected. Prevalence analysis was performed.

resultsThree-hundred pwMS were included. Muscle weakness and spasticity occurred mostly asymmetrically with a prevalence of paraparesis. Incidence of both symptoms increase with higher EDSS, particularly of muscle weakness. Twelve prevalent combined patterns were identified, with highest incidence of combinations characterized by "distal-intermediate spasticity and diffuse weakness" (29.3%), "diffuse spasticity and weakness" (13.7%), "distal spasticity and diffuse weakness" (11.7%).

conclusionsThis study highlighted the most prevalent combined patterns of weakness and spasticity, useful in clinical practice for pwMS' assessment by supporting optimal planning of specific pharmacologic and rehabilitative treatments.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisMuscle SpasticityMuscle WeaknessAdultAgedEpidemiologic StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceEpidemiologyLower limbsMultiple sclerosisMuscle weaknessParaparesisSpasticity

Identifiers

PMID39666117

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.