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Diagnostic Criteria, Classification and Treatment Goals in Multiple Sclerosis: The Chronicles of Time and Space

  • Demyelinating Disorders (DN Bourdette and M Cameron, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most diverse human diseases. Since its first description by Charcot in the nineteenth century, the diagnostic criteria, clinical course classification, and treatment goals for MS have been constantly revised and updated to improve diagnostic accuracy, physician communication, and clinical trial design. These changes have improved the clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with the disease. Recent technological and research breakthroughs will almost certainly further change how we diagnose, classify, and treat MS in the future. In this review, we summarize the key events in the history of MS, explain the reasoning behind the current criteria for MS diagnosis, classification, and treatment, and provide suggestions for further improvements that will keep enhancing the clinical practice of MS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1428 Madison Ave, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Achilles Ntranos & Fred Lublin

  2. Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5 East 98th Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA

    Fred Lublin

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  1. Achilles Ntranos
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Correspondence to Achilles Ntranos.

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Conflict of Interest

Achilles Ntranos declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Fred Lublin has received consultancy fees from Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, Bayer Healthcare, EMD Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Acetelion, Sanofi Genzyme, Acorda, Questcor, Roche/Genentech, Celgene, Johnson & Johnson, Revalesio, MedDay, Medimmune, TG Therapeutics, Xenoport, Medicinova, Atara Biotherapeutics, Receptos, Forward Pharma, Akros, Amgen, and Abvie. Dr. Lublin also has received grants from Celgene, Sanofi, Acorda, and Novartis as well as payment for lectures from Genzyme and Genentech.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Demyelinating Disorders

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Ntranos, A., Lublin, F. Diagnostic Criteria, Classification and Treatment Goals in Multiple Sclerosis: The Chronicles of Time and Space. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 16, 90 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0688-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-016-0688-8

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