Investigation of dysphagia risk in Multiple Sclerosis

• Grant number: 17/19882-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Maria Inês Rebelo Gonçalves
• Grantee: Vinícius Golzio Barradas
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinization disease of the central nervous system. In the literature, dysphagia is present in more than a third part of the patients, mainly the ones who have cerebelar, braistem and cognitive impairment. Swallowing alterations originate from impairment of oral and pharyngeal phases in most cases, and especially during the most advanced phases of the disease; impairment of the superior esophageal sphincter is also related, but is less frequent. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of dysphagia and to characterize swallowing difficulties in patients with MS. METHOD: It will be examined patients diagnosed with MS at the Outpatient Clinic of Neurology - Demyelinizate Diseases of Hospital São Paulo, São Paulo city, Brazil. It will be collected chart data and it will be conducted and speech pathology investigation regarding difficulties of swallowing using two questionnaires: Questionnaire of Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis (DYMUS-BR) and Scale of Severity of Fatigue. (AU)