Email - Updated Disease Course Definitions

National MS Society

MS Clinical Care Connection

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MS Clinical Care Connection

Updated Disease Course Resources Available

New disease course definitions - updated from the definitions first published in 1996 by Lublin and Reingold were published in 2014 by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials of MS based on advances in MRI technology and in the understanding of the disease process in MS. The four disease courses are:

Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)
Primary progressive MS (PPMS)
Secondary progressive MS (SPMS)

The updated definitions include modifiers to describe disease activity (relapses and/or new or enhancing lesions on MRI) and increasing disability (disease progression and/or accumulation of disability as a result of unresolved relapses) to optimize treatment decisions.

These courses are available on our website in a variety of formats: PowerPoint slides for presentations, 1996-2014 course comparison table (.pdf), and more information about each course.

New and Updated Resources for You and Your Practice

National MS Society free mobile app (iPhone and Android) for healthcare professionals.

New, referenced health and wellness resources:

Wellness Discussion Guide for People with MS and Their Healthcare Providers
Smoking and MS Tiffani Stroup, DO
Diet and MS Pavan Bhargava, MD
Sleep in MS Abbey Hughes, MD
Pain in MS Heidi Maloni, PhD, ANP-BC, CNRN, MSCN

New comprehensive listing of Resources for Clinicians and Resources for People Living with MS on the Professional Resource Center.

The National MS Society supports MS healthcare professionals through professional publications, tools and materials, as well as resources to share with patients and their families. Our information and resources are designed to help people affected by MS live their best lives in partnership with all of the members of the MS comprehensive healthcare team.

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