Posted by Alan F. Bachrach, M.D. on December 07, 1997 at 10:24:05:
In Reply to: Re: MS in the news posted by Deb Butterfield on December 05, 1997 at 23:02:58:
Dear Deb,
Thanks for your note. There is no "diagnostic test" for M.S. The diagnosis remains clinical with MRI, CSF oligoclonal banding and Evoked Potentials as supportive laboratory tests. Generally the physicians looks for a patient who has had two separate neurologic events separated both in space in the central nervous system (as evidenced by different symptoms such as an episode of unilateral visual loss which clears, followed by something such as balance problems or leg weakness) and in time by 6 months. The diagnosis is not easy and thus terms possible and probable are often used. Often a single clinical event accompanied by a highly suggestive MRI is taken as strong evidence of M.S. See the M.S. website.
Have a happy holiday season,
Alan