Authors
DH Miller, BG Weinshenker, Massimo Filippi, BL Banwell, JA Cohen, MS Freedman, SL Galetta, M Hutchinson, RT Johnson, L Kappos, J Kira, FD Lublin, HF McFarland, X Montalban, H Panitch, JR Richert, SC Reingold, Chris H Polman
Publication date
2008/11
Journal
Multiple Sclerosis Journal
Volume
14
Issue
9
Pages
1157-1174
Publisher
Sage Publications
Description
Background and objectives
Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) requires exclusion of diseases that could better explain the clinical and paraclinical findings. A systematic process for exclusion of alternative diagnoses has not been defined. An International Panel of MS experts developed consensus perspectives on MS differential diagnosis.
Methods
Using available literature and consensus, we developed guidelines for MS differential diagnosis, focusing on exclusion of potential MS mimics, diagnosis of common initial isolated clinical syndromes, and differentiating between MS and non-MS idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases.
Results
We present recommendations for 1) clinical and paraclinical red flags suggesting alternative diagnoses to MS; 2) more precise definition of “clinically isolated syndromes” (CIS), often the first …
Total citations
Scholar articles
DH Miller, BG Weinshenker, M Filippi, BL Banwell… - Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 2008