Clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease in central nervous system. The etiology is still unknown. The pathogenesis may be related to autoimmune response. Clinical features are dissemination in time (multiple attacks) and dissemination in space (multifocal episode). The common used examinations including brain or spinal MRI, CSF analysis and evoked potentials. The latest diagnostic criteria is McDonald criteria published in 2010. It is now accepted that neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is different from MS in clinical, pathology, imaging and so on. Due to the diversity in clinical manifestation and the lack of specific biological parameters, the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is still challenging. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.02.005

Keywords

• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuromyelitis optica
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis, differential
• Review