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COPYRIGHT 2003 International Medical News Group
ROCKVILLE, MD. -- Magnetic resonance imaging can be used to diagnose suspected multiple sclerosis more quickly than current diagnostic standards, according to a new guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology.
Studies have shown that MRI can detect occult disease activity in 50% to 80% of patients at the time of fast clinical presentation of a syndrome consistent with inflammatory demyelination. Such activity, which is a sensitive predictor of future conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis, provides sufficient evidence to support diagnosis and early treatment, Dr. Eliot M. Frohman and his colleagues said in a report by the AAN's subcommittee on therapeutics and technology assessment (Neurology 61[5]:602-11, 2003).
MS can be expected to develop within 7 to 10 years in more than 80% of young to middle-aged adults with a clinically isolated syndrome who meet these criteria: Alternative diagnoses...
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