Table 1: International Panel Criteria (McDonald Criteria) for Diagnosis MS

Table 1:
International Panel Criteria (McDonald Criteria) for Diagnosis MS
Clinical Presentation	Additional Data Needed for MS Diagnosis
Two or more attacks; objective clinical evidence of 2 or more lesions	None^a
Two or more attacks; objective clinical evidence of 1 lesion	Dissemination in space demonstrated by: MRI^b, or 2 or more MRI lesions consistent with MS plus positive CSF^c, or await further clinical attack implicating a different site.
One attack; objective clinical evidence of 2 or more lesions	Dissemination in time demonstrated by: MRI^b, or second clinical attack.
One attack; objective clinical evidence of 1 lesion (clincally isolated syndrome)	Dissemination in space demonstrated by: MRI^b, or 2 or more MRI lesions consistent with MS plus positive CSF^c And dissemination in time, demonstrated by: MRI^b, or Second clinical attack
Insidious neurological progression suggestive of MS	Positive CSF^c, and dissemination in space, demonstrated by: 1) 9 or more T2 lesions in brain, or 2) 2 or more lesions in spinal cord, or 3) 4-8 brain lesions plus 1 spinal cord lesion; or Abnormal visual evoked potentials with MRI demonstrating 4-8 brain lesions, or fewer than 4 brain lesions plus 1 spinal cord lesion; and Dissemination in time demonstrated by MRI^b; or Continued progression for 1 year
^a Brain MRI is recommended to exclude other etiologies ^b MRI criteria for dissemination in space or time are described in Table 2 ^c Positive CSF defined as oligoclonal bands different from those in serum, or raised IgG index. Adapted from reference 6.

Return to Multiple Sclerosis Chapter