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Sclerosis Diagnosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system damaging the sheath membrane that covers your nerves. The damage leads to interference between the brain and signals sent to the nerves. Diagnosis is difficult in early stages of the disease as symptoms appear and disappear.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of multiple sclerosis will vary depending on which nerve fibers are being damaged. Symptoms include double or blurring of vision, partial or complete vision loss in one eye at a time, tingling or pain in different areas of the body and lack of coordination. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, memory problems, numbness, prickly sensations and tremor.

    Lab Tests

    • There is no specific test for multiple sclerosis, so diagnosis will depend on ruling out other illnesses. Blood tests including a complete blood count and blood chemistry will be taken along with a urinalysis. Lab tests will rule out other conditions with symptoms that mimic multiple sclerosis.

    Spinal Tap

    • In a spinal tap, fluid is collected from your spinal canal and tested for abnormal amounts of white blood cells and proteins associated with multiple sclerosis. This procedure will rule out other conditions with the same neurological symptoms.

    MRI

    • An MRI will show lesions on your spine and brain that may be caused by multiple sclerosis. This diagnosis cannot be definitive because the lesions may be caused by other diseases such as Lyme disease or Lupus. A dye may be injected to highlight the lesions on imaging and provide information to your doctor if lesions are active or inactive. This will reveal if the disease is advancing. A neurology specialist may be able to distinguish if sclerosis is causing the lesions.

    Treatment

    • There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but medications are available to treat symptoms. Corticosteroids such as prednisone reduce inflammation. Interferons such as Avonex slow sclerosis symptoms, but can cause serious liver damage. Novantrone is an immunosuppressant drug used only in patients with advanced multiple sclerosis because of the damage it can cause the heart. Plasma exchange is a process of separating your blood cells from your plasma. The procedure is similar to kidney dialysis in its mechanics and may help people with severe sclerosis symptoms.

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