[Review of diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, leading to inflammatory demyelination and damage to neurons and their axons. The essence of MS is the occurrence of neurological symptoms associated with the occurance of demyelinating lesions disseminated in time (DIT) and space (DIS) (i.e. occurring within various CNS structures, in particular: pyramidal and cerebellar pathways). The aim of the article was to present the evolution of diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis in the years 1965-2017. Analysis of the changing criteria reveal that over the last several years, the time necessary to diagnose the disease, previously associated with the anticipation of subsequent symptoms of MS, now is definitely shorter, and the diagnosis can be made before the next relapse of MS, including cerebrospinal fluid examination.