Abstract
BACKGROUND: The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) is a validated and reliable tool to assess the extent of disabilities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the use of this tool has been found to be limited in assessing various symptoms of MS that are important. Our study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a new scoring system, reverse nutech functional score (RNFS) as compared to EDSS in assessing patients with MS treated with human embryonic stem cell (hESC) therapy. METHODS: The MS patients were treated with hESC therapy for one treatment period. All the patients were evaluated with EDSS and RNFS at baseline and after the hESC therapy. RESULTS: The study included a total of 24 MS patients with mean age of 45 year. The patients showed an improvement in parameters (sleeping disorders, paralysis, paraesthesia, myalgia, muscle weakness, memory, language, irritability, eye pain, depression and coordination, communication, breathing pattern, attention and appetite) associated with MS when evaluated with RNFS. This improvement went unnoticed when the patients were assessed with EDSS. CONCLUSION: RNFS can efficiently assess the effectiveness of hESC therapy in treating patients with MS. It could be a suitable scoring system for patients with MS as it can assess the slightest improvements in the patients. Use in other settings would be helpful in assessing its utility.