Multiple sclerosis: Diagnosis, management and prognosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis is the most common chronic disabling disease of the central nervous system in young adults. Objective: This article summarises the diagnosis, management and prognosis of multiple sclerosis. Discussion: Multiple sclerosis usually starts with an acute episode of neurological disturbance, termed a 'clinically isolated syndrome', followed by an illness phase punctuated by relapses and remissions which may transition after 10 years to a phase of progressive accumulation of disability without relapses. Fifteen to 20% of patients will have a progressive course from the onset. There is significant interpatient variability in prognosis. The main diagnostic criteria are ..