AFAIC, MS dx is the round file for when docs have a set of signs and symptoms they can't figure out because they have ruled out every possible cause they can think of.
now that docs can come up with another explanation for your husband's issues, the dx criteria for "MS" are not met.
in saying that, i've drawn on an older set of dx criteria - shumacher 1965, which was updated by poser 1983 and then macdonald 2001, i think.
The Schumacher criteria are:
-Neurological examination reveals objective abnormalities of central nervous system (CNS) function.
-History indicates involvement of two or more parts of CNS.
-CNS disease predominately reflects white matter involvement.
-Involvement of CNS follows one of two patterns:
-Two or more episodes, each lasting at least 24 hours and at least one month apart.
-Slow or stepwise progression of signs and symptoms over at least 6 months.
-Patient aged 10 to 50 years old at onset.
-Signs and symptoms cannot be better explained by other disease process (you don't see this one in poser or macdonald)
research abstract link:
Differential diagnosis in multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis can usually be diagnosed from a patient's history, clinical examination, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, and observations from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, sometimes, the classic clinical criteria, even when supported by MRI findings or by abnormalities of the CSF, may not be sufficiently specific. Many conditions can produce a multifocal central nervous system syndrome with a relapsing-remitting course in young adults. The rate of misdiagnosis is around 5%, indicating that 1 in 20 patients thought to have MS have instead a condition resembling MS. The need to reach diagnostic certainty is particularly important given the availability of treatments which may potentially prevent the progression of the disease. Therefore, the search for new methodological approaches which increase the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis is warranted. While waiting for the development of new techniques to facilitate an early and correct diagnosis, a correct approach to a suspect MS patient has to be underlined in order to reduce the risk of a misdiagnosis. In this paper, I illustrate the diagnostic work-up that the practicing physician should follow when first confronted by a patient suspected of having MS
Vitamin B12, demyelination, remyelination and repair in multiple sclerosisMultiple Sclerosis (MS) and vitamin B12 deficiency share common inflammatory and neurodegenerative pathophysiological characteristics. Due to similarities in the clinical presentations and MRI findings, the differential diagnosis between vitamin B12 deficiency and MS may be difficult. Additionally, low or decreased levels of vitamin B12 have been demonstrated in MS patients. Moreover, recent studies suggest that vitamin B12, in addition to its known role as a co-factor in myelin formation, has important immunomodulatory and neurotrophic effects. These observations raise the questions of possible causal relationship between the two disorders, and suggest further studies of the need to close monitoring of vitamin B12 levels as well as the potential requirement for supplementation of vitamin B12 alone or in combination with the immunotherapies for MS patients.
not suggesting b12 has anything to do with your hubby's case, it's just a well known example of how docs can misdx if they are not careful.