Diagnosing multiple sclerosis - NICE Pathways
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Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways bring together everything NICE says on a topic in an interactive flowchart. NICE Pathways are interactive and designed to be used online. They are updated regularly as new NICE guidance is published. To view the latest version of this NICE Pathway see: http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/multiple-sclerosis NICE Pathway last updated: 29 January 2019 This document contains a single flowchart and uses numbering to link the boxes to the associated recommendations. Multiple sclerosis Page 1 of 9 © NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways Multiple sclerosis Page 2 of 9 © NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways
1 Person with suspected multiple sclerosis
No additional information
2 Clinical presentations
Be aware that clinical presentations in MS include:
loss or reduction of vision in 1 eye with painful eye movements
double vision
ascending sensory disturbance and/or weakness
problems with balance, unsteadiness or clumsiness
altered sensation travelling down the back and sometimes into the limbs when bending the
neck forwards (Lhermitte's symptom).
Be aware that usually people with MS present with neurological symptoms or signs as
described above, and:
are often aged under 50 and
may have a history of previous neurological symptoms and
have symptoms that have evolved over more than 24 hours and
have symptoms that may persist over several days or weeks and then improve.
Do not routinely suspect MS if a person's main symptoms are fatigue, depression or dizziness
unless they have a history or evidence of focal neurological symptoms or signs.
3 Initial investigations
Before referring a person suspected of having MS to a neurologist, exclude alternative
diagnoses by performing blood tests including:
full blood count
inflammatory markers for example erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein
liver function tests
renal function tests
calcium
glucose
Multiple sclerosis Page 3 of 9
© NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways
thyroid function tests
vitamin B12
HIV serology.
4 When to refer to a consultant neurologist
Refer people suspected of having MS to a consultant neurologist. Speak to the consultant
neurologist if you think a person needs to be seen urgently.
If a person has an episode of isolated optic neuritis, confirmed by an ophthalmologist, refer
them to a consultant neurologist for further assessment.
5 Making a diagnosis
Only a consultant neurologist should make the diagnosis of MS on the basis of established up-
to-date criteria, such as the revised 2010 McDonald criteria, after:
assessing that episodes are consistent with an inflammatory process
excluding alternative diagnoses
establishing that lesions have developed at different times and are in different anatomical
locations for a diagnosis of relapsing–remitting MS
establishing progressive neurological deterioration over 1 year or more for a diagnosis of
primary progressive MS.
Do not diagnose MS on the basis of MRI findings alone.
Information at the time of diagnosis
The consultant neurologist should ensure that people with MS and, with their agreement their
family members or carers, are offered oral and written information at the time of diagnosis. This
should include, but not be limited to, information about:
what MS is
treatments, including disease-modifying therapies
symptom management
how support groups, local services, social services and national charities are organised and
how to get in touch with them
legal requirements such as notifying the DVLA and legal rights including social care,
employment rights and benefits.
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© NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways Discuss with the person with MS and their family members or carers whether they have social care needs and if so refer them to social services for assessment. Ensure the needs of children of people with MS are addressed. Neuromyelitis optica Diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica should be made by an appropriate specialist based on established up-to-date criteria. Quality standards The following quality statement is relevant to this part of the interactive flowchart. 1. Support at diagnosis 6 Diagnosis not confirmed No additional information 7 Follow-up If a person is suspected1 of having MS but does not fulfil the diagnostic criteria, plan a review. Discuss the timing of the review with the person and ensure they know who to contact for advice if they develop further neurological symptoms or if current symptoms worsen. Offer people suspected of having MS, information about support groups and national charities. 8 Diagnosis confirmed No additional information 9 Follow-up Offer the person with MS a face-to-face follow-up appointment with a healthcare professional with expertise in MS to take place within 6 weeks of diagnosis. See also comprehensive review. Multiple sclerosis Page 5 of 9 © NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways
Quality standards
The following quality statement is relevant to this part of the interactive flowchart.
2. Follow-up after diagnosis
10 Management
See Multiple sclerosis / Managing multiple sclerosis
1
Polman CH, Reingold SC, Banwell B et al. (2011) Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 revisions to the
McDonald criteria. Annals of Neurology 69: 292–302.
Multiple sclerosis Page 6 of 9
© NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways Contractures a shortening in the soft tissues (that is, tendons, muscles or ligaments) around a joint that limits the passive (and active) range of movement at that joint EDSS Expanded Disability Status Scale EMA European Medicines Agency Emotional lability involuntary laughing and crying related to a frontal lobe lesion Oscillopsia the subjective sensation of horizontal and/or vertical movement of the visual field that is unexplained by movement of the observer or environment Sources Multiple sclerosis in adults: management (2014) NICE guideline CG186 Your responsibility Guidelines The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian. Multiple sclerosis Page 7 of 9 © NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways Local commissioners and providers of healthcare have a responsibility to enable the guideline to be applied when individual professionals and people using services wish to use it. They should do so in the context of local and national priorities for funding and developing services, and in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities. Nothing in this guideline should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with complying with those duties. Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible. Technology appraisals The recommendations in this interactive flowchart represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, health professionals are expected to take these recommendations fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients. The application of the recommendations in this interactive flowchart is at the discretion of health professionals and their individual patients and do not override the responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or their carer or guardian. Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to provide the funding required to enable the recommendations to be applied when individual health professionals and their patients wish to use it, in accordance with the NHS Constitution. They should do so in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities. Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible. Medical technologies guidance, diagnostics guidance and interventional procedures guidance The recommendations in this interactive flowchart represent the view of NICE, arrived at after Multiple sclerosis Page 8 of 9 © NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis NICE Pathways careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, healthcare professionals are expected to take these recommendations fully into account. However, the interactive flowchart does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer. Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to implement the recommendations, in their local context, in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. Nothing in this interactive flowchart should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties. Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible. Multiple sclerosis Page 9 of 9 © NICE 2019. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.
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