Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Although there are no pathognomonic features to confirm the diagnosis of this immune-mediated disease, a constellation of clinical, radiological, and immune studies can ensure the clinician gets a more definitive diagnosis. Criteria have been made every few years based on research to clinch the diagnosis. The most recent criteria which are the McDonald criteria have been formed in 2001 and revised in 2005, 2010, and 2017. Most criteria are to be used only as a guide to facilitate the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Advances in demyelinating disorders will require diagnostic criteria to be revised every few years with scientists hoping for a more definitive and confirmative diagnosis. The cardinal features for diagnosis are dissemination in time and space. There should be no other possible explanation to the clinical features.