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MS is a relatively unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Learn about the four types of multiple sclerosis here....
Early detection of MS symptoms and medical treatment may slow down its progression. Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of MS here. ...
Diagnosing MS is fairly straightforward. Learn about the diagnostic tests and procedures neurologists use to confirm or exclude an MS diagnosis....
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Q: Optic neuritis and MS
asked by: DoctorQuestion on April 29th, 2008
have been diagnosed with Optic Neuritis 4 years ago. Since then I have had 2 MRI's with nothing showiing. I have lost about 40% of vision in my right eye which is the same to this day. I frequently have tingling in hands and feet, along with a staggered gate. I have most recently in the ast 3 weeks just returned for ma trip to Cuba. since my return I have noticed that my lack of sexual desire is extreemly bothersome. I have no disire what so ever. Erectile difficulties are present. Thankfully my wife is very understanding. They say that exposure to the sun can bring systoms of MS to the surface. The doctors were concerned that I do have MS but not making a diagnosis. They say that just because nothing has shown up in the MRI's to indicate that I have this desease that does not mean that I do not have this condition.


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on May 5th, 2008
Multiple Sclerosis Answer A4034
Optic neuritis is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis but the presence of optic neuritis is still not enough to confirm the diagnosis. Very indicative for MS is that symptoms come and go in episodes. At least 2 episodes are required to confirm MS and you had only one episode of optic neuritis.


Brain lesions (plaques) detected with an MRI together with optic neuritis are very strong evidence for having MS which is not in your case. In 50% of cases where MS is present with optic neuritis no plaques can be detected with an MRI. This means that you may have MS but it can’t be seen on an MRI.


There are additional diagnostic procedures for confirming or excluding MS: an examination of the cerebro-spinal liquor and a test for evocated electrical potentials.


Finally, other diseases with the same symptoms should be excluded before confirming MS. Optic neuritis can be also due to: viral-bacterial infections, autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus), certain drugs (chloramphenicol and ethambutol) and the inflammation of vessels (vasculitis) that feed the optic nerve.





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