Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common autoimmune, inflammatory, demyelinating neurological condition, often present to the emergency department with their first episode of symptoms and for treatment of future exacerbations.
While the diagnosis of MS is ultimately made based on clinical findings such as visual abnormalities, sensory and motor complaints, gait abnormalities, and fatigue, use of brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies may be helpful in making the diagnosis.
Brain MRI findings that are suggestive of MS include ovoid-shaped, demyelinated plaques often situated in periventricular regions and near the corpus callosum. Seventy to 95% of MS patients will have an abnormal brain MRI.
CSF findings suggestive of MS include oligoclonal IgG banding and is discovered in 85 to 95% of cases.
