Summary
Early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in the emergency department: necessary for its important therapeutic implications
Arbizu T, Arroyo González R, Casanova I Estruch B, Fernández Martínez O, Izquierdo Ayuso G, Montalbán X
Affiliation of the authors
Scientific Committee for the Early Detection of Multiple Sclerosis (DETEM), Platform of Independent Neurologists Specialists in Multiple Sclerosis, Spain.
DOI
Quote
Arbizu T, Arroyo González R, Casanova I Estruch B, Fernández Martínez O, Izquierdo Ayuso G, Montalbán X. Early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in the emergency department: necessary for its important therapeutic implications. Emergencias. 2011;23:140-5
Summary
Numerous international studies have shown that patients who start treatment for
multiple sclerosis (MS) early have markedly fewer outbreaks and the episodes are less
intense. Consequently, they are likely to stay active and independent longer. We might
say that early detection of MS is the most effective way to fight this degenerative
disease, which presently affects some 40 000 persons in Spain. Hospital emergency
departments are often the first place MS is recognized, and nearly a third of all MS
diagnoses are made there. Emergency physicians therefore play an important role and
should be able to suspect the debut of this disease in patients without a prior history of
neurological symptoms. This review discusses the keys for identifying MS as early as
possible to avoid delays that may diminish the effectiveness of currently available
treatments.