[Consensus document on spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Grupo de Enfermedades Desmielinizantes de la Sociedad Española de Neurología].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological inflammatory demyelinating disease. Specialists involved in the symptomatic treatment of this disease tend to apply heterogeneous diagnostic and treatment criteria. AIM: To establish homogeneous criteria for treating spasticity based on available scientific knowledge, facilitating decision-making in regular clinical practice. DEVELOPMENT: A group of multiple sclerosis specialists from the Spanish Neurological Society demyelinating diseases working group met to review aspects related to spasticity in this disease and draw up the consensus. After an exhaustive bibliographic search and following a metaplan technique, a number of preliminary recommendations were established to incorporate into the document. Finally, each argument was classified depending on the degree of recommendation according to the SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) system. The resulting text was submitted for review by the demyelinating disease group. An experts' consensus was reached regarding spasticity triggering factors, related symptoms, diagnostic criteria, assessment methods, quality of life and therapeutic management (drug and non-drug) criteria. CONCLUSION: The recommendations included in this consensus can be a useful tool for improving the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients, as they enable improved diagnosis and treatment of spasticity.