Patient-reported outcomes in multiple sclerosis patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation

Physical, psychological, and social function in MS patients is significantly deteriorated. Quality of life profile of the patients is characterized by compression and deformation. The majority of the patients exhibit either severe or critical QoL impairment. MS patients experience a wide range of disease-related symptoms; the most frequent symptoms are fatigue, toddling, heat sensitivity, psychological problems (anxiety and sadness), and numbness/tingling are present in more than 70% of patients. About half of all patients report these symptoms at the moderate-to-severe level. ASCT in MS patients improves their physical, psychological, and social function. The most definite improvement of quality of life takes place within a year of transplantation. After ASCT the number of patients with no QoL impairment increases and the number of patients with critical QoL impairment decreases. Quality of life treatment response was achieved in the vast majority of MS patients after ASCT. ASCT is associated with decline of symptom prevalence and severity in MS patients.