Clinical Utility of Screening Executive Test in the Detection of Executive Dysfunction in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (P2.140)

Introduction and Objectives: Several studies reported that up to 65[percnt] of patients with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) have cognitive impairment, even at the onset of the disease, being the executive dysfunction one of the deficits reported. While there are several screening tests specifically designed to detect executive dysfunction, no studies have compared its utility in patients with RRMS. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of different screening executive tests for the detection of executive dysfunction in patients with RRMS. Methodology: We evaluated RRMS patients with executive dysfunction (N = 36), RRMS patients without executive dysfunction (N = 20) and controls (N = 44) matched for age, sex and educational level. All subjects were evaluated with executive screening test, including the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the Phonological Fluency, the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT). Patients were also evaluated with classical executive tests. We considered that a patient had executive dysfunction if he scored a detour and a half or more below the control mean on some of the classic group executive tests. Results: Using a cutoff of 17, the FAB, showed a sensitivity of 72.22[percnt] and specificity of 68.18[percnt] to detect executive dysfunction in patients with RRMS. The Phonological Fluency with a cutoff of 18, showed a sensitivity of 52.83[percnt] and specificity of 67.21[percnt]. Using a cutoff of 25.50, the IFS showed a sensitivity of 70.27[percnt] and specificity of 78.13[percnt]. The PASAT with a cutoff of 39, showed a sensitivity of 75.00[percnt] and specificity of 85.21[percnt]. Conclusion: The IFS and PASAT were the most useful tests for the detection of executive dysfunction in RRMS patients. Disclosure: Dr. Pagani Cassara has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bruno has nothing to disclose. Dr. Marenco has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Torralva has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sinay has nothing to disclose. Dr. Roca has nothing to disclose.