Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

 

Multiple Sclerosis  is a very difficult disease to live with and to complicate things even more it can be very tough to simply get a solid diagnosis telling you if you have it or not. A definite diagnosis cannot be made until evidence of at least two anatomically separate dymylinating events occurring at least thirty days apart.

There are a couple of ways to receive a correct diagnosis. One of them is clinical diagnosis, another is MRI evaluation, and the last is Cerebrospinal fluid testing.

First up is the clinical diagnosis. Clinical data alone may not be sufficient for a diagnosis. It can be made if two separate episodes of neurologic symptoms of MS occur. The diagnosis can also be made if someone has consistent abnormalities on physical examination.

Next is MRI evalutating. An MRI on the brain and spine is often used to evaluate if you have Multiple Sclerosis. The MRI can provide data of a diagnosis since it can reveal lesions that occur but show no clinical data. 

  

 

 

 

 

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Last of all is Cerebrospinal fluid testing, or CSF. CSF tests for oligoclonal bands, which are immunoglobulins found in 85-95% of people with Multiple Sclerosis. Combined with an MRI and clinical data this can lead to a definite diagnosis.

Researchers have talked about more efficient tests that would be developed in the future. One of these particular tests is a measurement of antibodies against myelin proteins. Since signs and symptoms of MS are similar to a stroke, brain inflammation, infections such as lyme disease, and tumors, additional testing is is needed to distinguish MS from these other problems.

 

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