Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40982769›Full record

ArticleNeurology2025

Toward a Unified Definition of Progression Independent of Relapse Activity in Multiple Sclerosis.

Emilio Portaccio, Matteo Betti, Ermelinda De Meo, Luisa Pastò, Elio Prestipino, Alessandra Lugaresi, Eleonora Cocco, Giovanna De Luca, Francesco Patti, Valentina Liliana Adriana Maria Torri Clerici and 20 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology, 2025. 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. Article
  3. Big data in multiple sclerosis.Current opinion in neurology · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
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

30 authors.

Emilio PortaccioDepartment of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9662-1762
Matteo BettiDepartment of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Italy.
Ermelinda De MeoDepartment of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Italy.
Luisa PastòSOD Neurologia, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Elio PrestipinoSOD Neurologia, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Alessandra LugaresiUOSI Riabilitazione Sclerosi Multipla, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2902-5589
Eleonora CoccoDepartment of Medical Science and Public Health, Centro Sclerosi Multipla, University of Cagliari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3878-8820
Giovanna De LucaNeurology Unit, Multiple Sclerosis Centre, SS. Annunziata University Hospital, Chieti, Italy.
Francesco PattiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6923-0846
Valentina Liliana Adriana Maria Torri ClericiNeuroimmunology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6329-8946
Diana FerraroDipartimento di Neuroscienze - Ospedale Civile di Baggiovara - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Modena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4818-3806
Vincenzo Brescia MorraMultiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Center, Department of Neuroscience (NSRO), Federico II University, Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0462-9618
Giuseppe SalemiDepartment of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3756-4323
Marika VianelloCa' Foncello Hospital, AULSS2, Neurology, Treviso, Italy.
Raffaella CerquaClinica Neurologica - AOU delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Matilde IngleseDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Mother-Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Italy.
Maria Barbara PasanisiCentro SM - Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
Paola PeriniCentro regionale per la Sclerosi Multipla Regione Veneto, Clinica Neurologica, Azienda Ospedaliera, Università di Padova, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-9628-1180
Silvia RomanoCentro Neurologico Terapie Sperimentali - Università La Sapienza di Roma - AO S. Andrea, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0499-8843
Carlo PozzilliCentro SM - Policlinico S. Andrea - Università La Sapienza di Roma, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6360-4798
Carla TortorellaCentro Sclerosi Multipla - AO S. Camillo Forlanini, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9037-7300
Alessia Di SapioCentro di riferimento Regionale SM (CRESM) - SCDO Neurologia - AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
Pietro AnnovazziNeurologia ad Indirizzo Neuroimmunologico - Centro Sclerosi Multipla - ASST della Valle Olona, Ospedale di Gallarate, Italy.
Marta SimoneDipartimento di Medicina di Precisione e Rigenerativa e Area Jonica (DiMePre-J), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4381-4613
Pietro IaffaldanoDepartment of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2308-1731
Maria A RoccaNeuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2358-4320
Massimo FilippiNeuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan Italy; Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5485-0479
Maria TrojanoDepartment of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy.
Maria Pia AmatoDepartment of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3325-3760
Italian Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Register

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesProgression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) is the main driver of disability accumulation in relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). We tested various PIRA definitions against the risk of long-term disability.

methodsPatients with relapsing MS, first visit ≥January 1, 2000, ≥3 visits with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and ≥5-year follow-up were extracted from the Italian MS and Related Disorders Register on September 29, 2023. Eighteen PIRA definitions were obtained combining fixed or roving baseline, 24-week, 48-week confirmed or sustained disability accrual, no relapses ≤90 days before/≤30 days after the event (90d), ≤180 days before/≤30 days after the event, or absence of relapses from baseline to confirmation score (ABS). Predictive performance against the reaching of EDSS = 6.0 was calculated.

resultsA total of 30,203 patients were included. After a follow-up of 11.3 ± 4.3 years, PIRA ranged from 38.8% to 74.1%. EDSS = 6.0 was detected in 4,401 (15%) patients. Sensitivity of PIRA definitions against EDSS = 6.0 was higher using the 90d criterion (66.7%-69.4%), while the ABS criterion increased specificity (55.3%-62.2%). DISCUSSION: The definition of PIRA combining roving baseline, no relapses 90 days before and 30 days after the event and 24-week confirmation achieved the best predictive value and feasibility, supporting its use in routine practice and research.

Indexed as

Disease ProgressionMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingAdultDisability EvaluationFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceRegistries

Identifiers

PMID40982769
PMCPMC12477792

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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.