Therapeutic area · Multiple sclerosisUpdated September 28, 2026

EDC for multiple sclerosis trials, from relapses to progression

MS trials combine relapse counts, disability progression on the EDSS and MRI activity, often with a blinded examining neurologist. Capture structures relapses, EDSS components and scan tracking in one study, with role-based access that keeps raters blind.

  • Relapse forms
  • EDSS with functional systems
  • Blinded rater roles

Free sandbox · No credit card · 21 CFR Part 11 aligned

Relapse assessment · Unscheduled
Subject 006-0015 · Treating neurologistSubmitted

Symptom onset date

RLSTDTC
11-Jun-2027

Symptoms lasted 24 hours or more

RL24H
NoYes

Fever or infection present

RLFEVER
NoYes

EDSS assessment by examining neurologist

RLEDSS
Not doneDone
Confirmation depends on the examining rater

What matters in MS trials

  • Relapsing MS trials often use the annualised relapse rate as the primary endpoint, with MRI activity (new or enlarging T2 lesions, gadolinium-enhancing lesions) and disability progression as key secondaries.
  • Progressive MS trials focus on confirmed disability progression, often a composite of the EDSS, timed 25-foot walk and nine-hole peg test.
  • A relapse is typically new or worsening neurological symptoms lasting at least 24 hours without fever or infection, separated from a previous relapse by at least 30 days. Confirmed relapses usually require an objective change on examination.
  • Many trials separate the examining neurologist, who rates the EDSS without access to safety data, from the treating neurologist.
  • Patient-reported outcomes include fatigue, such as FACIT-Fatigue, and MS-specific impact measures.

Study design

Relapses need a fast, complete workflow

A suspected relapse starts a sequence: the participant reports symptoms, the site sees them within a defined window (often a few days), the examining neurologist performs an EDSS, and the investigator decides whether it meets the protocol definition. Treatment with steroids may follow. If any step happens late or is not recorded, the relapse cannot be confirmed and the endpoint loses an event.

Unscheduled relapse visits with their own forms make that sequence visible. The relapse form records onset, duration, fever or infection, the functional systems affected and the confirmation decision; the EDSS form at the same visit records the objective change.

MRI

Scans are usually read centrally by an imaging vendor. The study database records scan dates and acquisition details, and the central read results are typically delivered as a dataset and merged for analysis. Check that scan dates in the database and the imaging vendor's records agree.

Schedule of assessments · Relapsing MS trial
AssessmentScrBLM3M6M12M24Relapse
EDSS (examining neurologist)
Relapse assessment
MRI
Timed 25-foot walk and 9-hole peg
Fatigue PRO

Relapse visits are unscheduled and use the same forms

Blinding

Protect the blind around every assessment

Roles control what each user sees and does. Blinded roles never receive the treatment arm, not even in the data behind the screen, and emergency unblinding stays available to investigators, with every allocation and unblinding logged in the audit trail. Plan the examining neurologist's role as part of your rater separation, and check in the sandbox exactly what each role can see.

  • Blinded and unblinded roles.
  • Treatment arm never sent to blinded users.
  • Emergency unblinding for investigators, logged.
Clinical trial randomization software

Study coordinator

Subject 01-004

Randomized · R-0012

Treatment assignment blinded

KitK-10418

Arm columnNot sent

Unblinded administrator

Subject 01-004

Randomized · R-0012

Treatment: Active (A)

KitK-10418

Arm columnA

Same subject, same screen. The arm never reaches blinded roles.

Build relapse and EDSS forms

Set up unscheduled relapse visits in the free sandbox.

Build your MS study free

Endpoints

MS endpoints and the data behind them

EndpointData needed
Annualised relapse rateRelapse forms with onset and confirmation, time on study
Confirmed disability progressionEDSS with dates, relapse status at confirmation, confirmation interval
MRI activityScan dates and central read results
Composite progressionEDSS, timed 25-foot walk and nine-hole peg test
No evidence of disease activityRelapses, progression and MRI activity combined
CognitionProcessing speed tests such as the SDMT

Long follow-up

Extension studies and long-term safety

MS treatments are taken for years, so pivotal trials are often followed by open-label extensions that continue collecting EDSS, relapses and safety data. Planning the extension in the same study structure, with the same forms and definitions, keeps the long-term dataset continuous.

Safety monitoring may include specific risks such as infections, liver function or lymphocyte counts, depending on the mechanism. Repeated lab values in a lab table with reference ranges and range checks make trends visible early. See adverse event reporting software.

Study build

MS study build checklist

Relapse definition

Duration, fever exclusion, separation and confirmation rules.

Relapse visit window

Time from symptom report to examination.

Examining rater separation

Roles that keep safety and dosing data away.

Progression definition

EDSS thresholds and confirmation interval.

MRI tracking

Scan dates and details recorded; central reads merged.

Extension plan

Same forms and definitions for long-term follow-up.

FAQ

Questions teams ask before they switch

Something not covered here? Ask us directly.

What are the main endpoints in MS trials?

Annualised relapse rate, confirmed disability progression on the EDSS, and MRI activity, with composite progression endpoints in progressive MS.

How is a relapse defined?

Typically as new or worsening neurological symptoms lasting at least 24 hours without fever or infection, separated from a previous relapse by at least 30 days. Confirmed relapses usually need an objective change on examination.

Why use a separate examining neurologist?

To keep the EDSS rater unaware of side effects or dosing that could reveal the treatment arm.

Can Capture keep raters blinded?

Yes. Blinded roles never receive the treatment arm, and permissions control what each role sees.

Are MRI images stored in Capture?

Capture records scan dates and details. Images are usually read centrally by an imaging vendor, and results are merged for analysis.

Can I try it free?

Yes, in the free sandbox with every feature.

MS data that confirms every event

Relapses, EDSS and blinded roles in one study. Free sandbox.

Build your MS study free