Recently proposed diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (modified from McDonald et al1)
| Clinical presentation | Additional data needed | |
| ⩾ 2 clinical relapses | ||
| Objective clinical evidence ⩾ 2 lesions | None | |
| Objective clinical evidence 1 lesion | Dissemination in space3-150 | |
| 1 clinical relapse with objective evidence | MRI dissemination in time3-151 and space | |
| Progressive picture | OCBs | |
| and | ||
| Dissemination in space (MRI ± VEPs3-152) | ||
| and | ||
| Dissemination in time (MRI3-151 or clinical) | ||
↵3-150 Dissemination in space: typical MRI (⩾ 3 of 4 criteria satisfied) or ⩾ 2 MRI lesions (brain/spinal cord) + OCBs.
↵3-151 Dissemination in time: Gadolinium enhancing lesion on 3 month single interval MRI or new T2 lesion on 6 month MRI not seen at 3 months.
↵3-152 Various combinations brain/spinal cord lesions and VEP abnormalities.