Guidelines Provided for Diagnosis of Pediatric, Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Sept. 24, 2024 -- In a clinical review conducted by an international committee of multiple sclerosis (MS) experts in pediatric and adult MS and published online Sept. 16 in JAMA Neurology, consensus guidance is provided for diagnosing pediatric and late-onset MS.
Le H. Hua, M.D., from the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, and colleagues provide guidance on approaches to differential diagnosis in suspected MS specific to those aged younger than 18 years and older than 50 years.
The authors note that compared with typical adult-onset MS, unique biological factors are seen in children younger than 18 years and adults older than 50 years. These biological differences may influence clinical presentation, resilience to neuronal injury, and differential diagnosis. Children have high immunological reactivity, increasing the likelihood of other mimicking disorders; consequently, MS needs to be differentiated from other neuroimmunological conditions. The clinical disease course of MS is distinct in children; progressive onset at presentation should warrant investigation for alternative diagnoses. Children are likely to reach disability milestones at earlier ages than adults, underscoring the need for early diagnosis to allow for timely intervention. In older adults, MS should be differentiated from more common conditions such as vascular disease, spinal stenosis/compressive myelopathy, and arthritis. Since inflammatory activity is reduced during older age, relapses triggered by inflammation occur less often, but disability progression tends to accelerate. Nonspecific white matter changes in the brain in older populations are more likely due to vascular disease or migraines, potentially leading to misdiagnosis of MS.
"There are important implications for when MS treatment begins, and improving diagnostic approach is an important step forward in providing tailored care as our research into these patient subsets continues," Hua said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2024
Read this next
Parent-Reported Firearm Storage Poor Estimator of Teen Perceived Access
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- Parent-reported firearm storage seems to be a poor estimator of teen perceived firearm access, according to a study published online June 10 in JAMA...
CT Colonography Cost-Effective, Clinically Effective for CRC Screening
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- Computed tomography colonography (CTC) is cost-effective and clinically effective for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, according to a study published...
Global Incidence Rate of Rheumatoid Arthritis Increased From 1990 to 2021
MONDAY, June 16, 2025 -- The incidence rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increased globally from 1990 to 2021, with the heaviest burden born by regions with a high...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.