Revised McDonald Criteria for Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

Per Polman, et. al, 2010: “An attack is defined as a neurologic disturbance of the kind seen in MS. It can be documented by subjective report or by objective observation, but it must last for at least 24 hours. Pseudoattacks and single paroxysmal episodes must be excluded. To be considered separate attacks, at least 30 days must elapse between onset of one event and onset of another event.”

Per Polman, et. al, 2010: “Clinical diagnosis based on objective clinical findings for 2 attacks is most secure. Reasonable historical evidence for 1 past attack, in the absence of documented objective neurological findings, can include historical events with symptoms and evolution characteristics for prior inflammatory demyelinating even; at least 1 attack however must be supported by objective findings.”