“Undiagnosing” multiple sclerosis

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e318259e1b2
• Publication Date: 2012-05-12T02:52:12Z
• Authors: Andrew J. Solomon; Eran P. Klein; Dennis Bourdette
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Multiple Sclerosis; 0302 clinical medicine; Neurology; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Health Care Costs; Diagnostic Errors; 3. Good health

To describe the clinical characteristics of encounters with patients misdiagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS).A cross-sectional Internet-based physician survey MS specialists was performed.The response rate for 50.4%. Of those who responded, majority (95%) reported having evaluated 1 or more had been diagnosed MS, but they strongly felt did not have within last year. The respondents (>90%) also use disease-modifying therapy in a proportion these patients. Most (94%) found equally challenging than giving new diagnosis MS. Fourteen percent that always inform such their opinion MS.The misdiagnosis is common and has significant consequences patient care health system costs. Caring challenging, at times honest disclosure represents an important ethical concern neurologists. More data are needed on this population to improve diagnostic acumen