Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating central nervous system disorder that affects young, otherwise healthy people. Presenting symptoms can be variable; the complaints are often vague and suggestive of a functional disorder. Diagnosis is based mainly on the clinical triad of young age, involvement of two or more areas within the central nervous system, and history characterized by exacerbations and remissions. In selected cases, the diagnosis is aided by cerebrospinal fluid examination, evoked potentials and computed tomographic scanning.