Update on diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis

Recent advances in neuroimaging have simplified the diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis. Indeed, the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis could be obtained during the first bout of disease flare, very early in the disease course. This is particularly important to shorten the diagnostic delay as early treatment may limit the occurrence of late irreversible disabilities. At the same time, major therapeutic advances have been obtained and new drugs that are well tolerated and more effective, despite the possible rare but potentially severe side effects are been developed. This article reviews the modern diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in multiple sclerosis in accordance with the recent obtained advances. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of the Societe nationale francaise de medecine interne (SNFMI).