scholarly journals Differential diagnosis of suspected multiple sclerosis: a consensus approach

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1157-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
DH Miller ◽  
BG Weinshenker ◽  
M Filippi ◽  
BL Banwell ◽  
JA Cohen ◽  
...  

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 presentations of MS or its alternatives; 3) algorithms for diagnosis of three common CISs related to MS in the optic nerves, brainstem, and spinal cord; and 4) a classification scheme and diagnosis criteria for idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. Conclusions Differential diagnosis leading to MS or alternatives is complex and a strong evidence base is lacking. Consensus-determined guidelines provide a practical path for diagnosis and will be useful for the non-MS specialist neurologist. Recommendations are made for future research to validate and support these guidelines. Guidance on the differential diagnosis process when MS is under consideration will enhance diagnostic accuracy and precision.

Author(s):  
Siddharthan Chandran ◽  
Alastair Compston

Clinicians suspect demyelination when episodes reflecting damage to white matter tracts within the central nervous system occur in young adults. The paucity of specific biological markers of discrete demyelinating syndromes places an emphasis on clinical phenotype—temporal and spatial patterns—when classifying demyelinating disorders. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the most common demyelinating disorder, becomes probable when these symptoms and signs recur, involving different parts of the brain and spinal cord. Other important demyelinating diseases include post-infectious neurological disorders (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis), demyelination resulting from metabolic derangements (central pontine myelinosis), and inherited leucodystrophies that may present in children or in adults. Accepting differences in mechanism, presentation, and treatment, two observations can usefully be made when classifying demyelinating disorders. These are the presence or absence of inflammation, and the extent of focal vs. diffuse demyelination. Multiple sclerosis is prototypic for the former, whereas dysmyelinating disorders, such as leucodystrophies are representative of the latter....


Author(s):  
G. Chuprina

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of an infectious and allergic origin, which usually begins at a young age, manifested by signs of a multifocal lesion mainly in the central nervous system, it has a remitting, less progressive nature of the course, often leads to disability. Multiple sclerosis is the most famous and widespread throughout the globe demyelinating diseases of the nervous system. According to the prevalence, it ranks fourth after cerebral stroke, epilepsy and parkinsonism, and is among the so-called "Four riders of the neurological apocalypse", according to their medical consequences and social consequences. The main variants of the development of multiple sclerosis are remitting, secondary and primary-progressive flow. The remitting flow (85-90% of patients in the early stages of the disease) is characterized by pronounced exacerbations followed by complete or partial restoration of impaired functions without signs of progression during remission periods. With secondary progressive scattered sclerosis, the remitting nature changes with a gradual increase in neurological symptoms with or without rare exacerbations, with minor stabilization or remission periods. A similar transformation is observed 10 years after the onset of the disease in almost 50% of patients, and in 25 years - in 80% of patients. At the primary progressive scattered (10-15%) progression is noted from the very beginning with isolated periods of stabilization and temporary minor improvement. Etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnostics, differential diagnosis, treatment of multiple sclerosis are considered.


2020 ◽  
pp. 6026-6042
Author(s):  
Alasdair Coles ◽  
Siddharthan Chandran

The common feature of all of the demyelinating diseases is that, initially at least, the oligodendrocyte-myelin unit is the primary target, with the axon comparatively spared. There are a range of causes, both acquired and inherited, which this chapter explores. Multiple sclerosis, the prototypic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, is the leading causing of neurological disability among young adults in many industrialized nations. In the last two decades therapies have been licensed with increasing capacity to suppress the inflammation which underlies the condition, leading to durable benefits to patients. The next most prevalent demyelinating disease is neuromyelitis optica. Originally thought to be a variant of multiple sclerosis, it is now recognized to be a distinct disease whose treatment is radically different from multiple sclerosis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Amr Hassan ◽  
Alaa El-Mazny ◽  
Mohammed Saher ◽  
Ismail Ibrahim Ismail ◽  
Mohammed Almuqbil

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are autoimmune demyelinating disorders of the peripheral and central nervous systems, respectively. The co-occurrence of these 2 conditions is rare in the literature. Herein, we present a rare case of GBS and MS in a 19-year-old female who presented initially with GBS followed by MS, and we provide a literature review. Despite being rare, it should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients with atypical and usual presentation of both diseases.


2021 ◽  
pp. 106689692199356
Author(s):  
Fleur Cordier ◽  
Lars Velthof ◽  
David Creytens ◽  
Jo Van Dorpe

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare immune-mediated inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Its characteristic perivenular demyelination and inflammation aid in the differential diagnosis with other inflammatory demyelinating diseases. Here, we present a clinical case of ADEM, summarize its histological hallmarks, and discuss pitfalls concerning the most important neuropathological differential diagnoses.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 164-170
Author(s):  
Rachel Gottlieb-Smith ◽  
Amy Waldman

AbstractAcquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) present with acute or subacute monofocal or polyfocal neurologic deficits localizing to the central nervous system. The clinical features of distinct ADS have been carefully characterized including optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. These disorders may all be monophasic disorders. Alternatively, optic neuritis, partial transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis may be first presentations of a relapsing or polyphasic neuroinflammatory disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica. The clinical features of these disorders and the differential diagnosis are discussed in this article.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohga Samy

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and it is characterized by excessive demyelination PURPOSE: The study aim to investigate the possible protective effect of ozone (O3) in ethidium bromide (EB) induced demyelination in rats either alone or in combination with corticosteroid in order to decreases the dose of steroid therapy. MATERIAL and METHODS: Rats were divided into 7 groups Group (1) normal control rats received saline. Group (2) sham-operated rats received saline. Group (3) sham operated rats received oxygen. Group (4) EB-treated rats received EB. Group (5) EB treated rats received oxygen. Group (6) EB treated rats received methyl prednisolone (MP) Group (7) EB treated rats received half the dose of MP concomitant with ozone. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the brain serotonin, dopamine, noradrenalin. A reduction of MDA,TNF-COX2 immune-reactivity was noticed in MP and oxygen groups . Furthermore, best amelioration was achieved by combining half the dose of methyl-prednisolone with ozone. CONCLUSION: We concluded that ozone has a protective effect on demyelination and can be used due to its protective effect in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
J William Lindsey

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common cause of neurologic symptoms and disability in young adults. The distinguishing pathologic features of MS are loss of myelin and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin sheath is essential for rapid conduction of nerve signals along large-diameter axons. Oligodendrocytes produce and maintain myelin in the CNS, and Schwann cells produce and maintain myelin in the peripheral nerves. In addition to MS, there are a number of related disorders causing demyelination, inflammation, or both in the CNS. This chapter discusses MS and related disorders, including neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, Behçet syndrome, neurosarcoidosis, inherited demyelinating diseases (leukodystrophies, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]), and virus-induced demyelination (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). The section on MS covers epidemiology, etiology/genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Figures include organization of the microenvironment of larger-diameter axons, typical magnetic resonance imaging findings in MS and neuromyelitis optica, postgadolinium images of the cervical spine in MS, and an approach to treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Tables list MS and related disorders, distribution of neurologic deficits at the onset of MS, differential diagnosis of MS, disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting MS, and selected leukodystrophies, as well as diagnostic criteria and selected symptomatic therapies for MS. This review contains 3 highly rendered figures, 7 tables, and 82 references.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J William Lindsey

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common cause of neurologic symptoms and disability in young adults. The distinguishing pathologic features of MS are loss of myelin and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin sheath is essential for rapid conduction of nerve signals along large-diameter axons. Oligodendrocytes produce and maintain myelin in the CNS, and Schwann cells produce and maintain myelin in the peripheral nerves. In addition to MS, there are a number of related disorders causing demyelination, inflammation, or both in the CNS. This chapter discusses MS and related disorders, including neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, Behçet syndrome, neurosarcoidosis, inherited demyelinating diseases (leukodystrophies, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]), and virus-induced demyelination (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis). The section on MS covers epidemiology, etiology/genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management, and prognosis. Figures include organization of the microenvironment of larger-diameter axons, typical magnetic resonance imaging findings in MS and neuromyelitis optica, postgadolinium images of the cervical spine in MS, and an approach to treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Tables list MS and related disorders, distribution of neurologic deficits at the onset of MS, differential diagnosis of MS, disease-modifying therapies for relapsing-remitting MS, and selected leukodystrophies, as well as diagnostic criteria and selected symptomatic therapies for MS.   This chapter contains 3 highly rendered figures, 7 tables, 82 references, 1 teaching slide set, and 5 MCQs.


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