HerMeS: a registry-based evaluation of the HERCULES criteria for identifying nonrelapsing SPMS - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #SPMS
- #Multiple Sclerosis
- #Registry-based Study
- The study evaluates the HERCULES criteria for identifying non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (nrSPMS) using registry data.
- A cohort of 20,306 relapsing MS patients was analyzed, with 4.26% classified as SPMS by neurologist-defined (ND) criteria and 7.89% by HERCULES criteria.
- HERCULES-defined SPMS patients were older and had fewer relapses post-conversion compared to ND-defined patients.
- Progression independent from relapse activity (PIRA) was observed in 88.8% of ND and 88.5% of HERCULES-defined cases, with earlier onset in the latter.
- The HERCULES criteria showed high specificity (93.4%) but low sensitivity (37.6%) in identifying nrSPMS.
- The study highlights the utility of standardized algorithmic definitions for SPMS in registry-based research.