Multiple Sclerosis

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Multiple Sclerosis
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Differential Diagnosis

Early signs of MS are often mistaken for other disorders, including the following:

• Cerebrovascular disease (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack [TIA])
• Epilepsy
• Degenerative disc disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Tumor
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency
• Weakening of the nerves (neuropathy)

Conditions that may appear similar to MS on MRI scan include the following:

• Congenital biochemical disorders (e.g., adrenaleukodystrophy, metachromatic leukodystrophy)
• Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
• Lyme disease
• Lupus (an autoimmune disorder)
• Progressive multifocal leukencephalopathy (HIV-related disorder)
• Viral infection (may produce a response that causes demyelination)

Multiple Sclerosis, Differential Diagnosis reprinted with permission from neurologychannel.com
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