Poser criteria
Encyclopedia
Poser criteria are diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis
(MS). They replaced the older Schumacker criteria, and now they are considered obsolete as McDonald criteria
have superseded them. Nevertheless, some of the concepts introduced have remained in MS research, like CDMS (clinical definite MS), and newer criteria are often calibrated against them.
The article that introduced them also defined the concepts of attack, historical information, clinical evidence, paraclinical evidence, lesion typical of MS, remission, separate lesions and laboratory support, which are necessary to apply the criteria.
The authors defined a set of rules that can yield five conclusions: CDMS, LSDMS, CPMS, LSPMS or noMS. Poser diagnosis of CDMS is known to have a sensitivity of 87% respect postmortem autopsy examination
If none of these requirements is accomplished, the diagnosis is "No MS", meaning that there is not enough clinical evidence to support a clinical diagnosis of MS.
The first manifestation of MS is the so-called clinically isolated syndrome, or CIS, which is the first isolated attack. The Poser diagnosis criteria for MS does not allow doctors normally to give an MS diagnosis until a second attack takes place. Therefore the concept of "clinical MS", for a MS that can be diagnosed is sometimes too strong because until MS diagnosis has been established, nobody can tell whether the disease dealing with is MS.
Cases of MS before the CIS are sometimes found during other neurological inspections and are referred to as "subclinical MS". "Preclinical MS" refers to cases after the CIS but before the confirming second attack. After the second confirming attack the situation is referred to as CDMS (clinically defined multiple sclerosis).
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
(MS). They replaced the older Schumacker criteria, and now they are considered obsolete as McDonald criteria
McDonald criteria
The McDonald criteria are diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis . These criteria are named after neurologist W. Ian McDonald. In April 2001 an international panel in association with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of America recommended revised diagnostic criteria for MS...
have superseded them. Nevertheless, some of the concepts introduced have remained in MS research, like CDMS (clinical definite MS), and newer criteria are often calibrated against them.
The article that introduced them also defined the concepts of attack, historical information, clinical evidence, paraclinical evidence, lesion typical of MS, remission, separate lesions and laboratory support, which are necessary to apply the criteria.
The authors defined a set of rules that can yield five conclusions: CDMS, LSDMS, CPMS, LSPMS or noMS. Poser diagnosis of CDMS is known to have a sensitivity of 87% respect postmortem autopsy examination
Definitions
Poser et al. define several concepts. The most important for diagnosis are:- Attack: Occurrence of a symptom of neurological dysfunction for more than 24 hours
- Clinical evidence: Neurological dysfunction demonstrable by neurological examination
- Paraclinical evidence: Demonstration by any test of the existence of a non-clinical lesion in the CNS
Diagnosis conclusions
The criteria can yield five conclusions:- CDMS – Clinically definite MS. Needs two attacks and some clinical or paraclinical evidences
- LSDMS – Laboratory supported definite MS, showing oligoclonal bandOligoclonal bandOligoclonal bands are bands of immunoglobulins that are seen when a patient's blood serum, gained from blood plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid is analyzed....
s and clinical or paraclinical evidences - CPMS – Clinically probable MS, with less restrict combinations.
- LSPMS – Laboratory supported probable MS. Only two attacks is enough to enter this category
- No MS – There is no clinical evidence of having MS.
Summary of requirements
Any of the five conclusions have subpossibilities. Here a table is shown with each one of them:| Clinical Presentation | Additional Data Needed | |
|---|---|---|
| CDMS | * Two or more attacks (relapses) | Two clinical evidence One clinical and one paraclinical evidence |
| LSDMS | * At least one attack and oligoclonal band Oligoclonal band Oligoclonal bands are bands of immunoglobulins that are seen when a patient's blood serum, gained from blood plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid is analyzed.... s |
Two attacks and one evidence (clinical or paraclinical) One attack and two clinical evidences One attack, one clinical and one paraclinical evidences |
| CPMS | * At least one attack | Two attacks and one clinical evidence One attack and two clinical evidences One attack, one clinical and one paraclinical evidences |
| LSPMS | * Two attacks | No more evidence is required |
If none of these requirements is accomplished, the diagnosis is "No MS", meaning that there is not enough clinical evidence to support a clinical diagnosis of MS.
Extension of the concepts
As more knowledge about the underlying pathology of MS has been gathered, the concepts of subclinical, preclinical and CIS have been used together with the Poser original classification.The first manifestation of MS is the so-called clinically isolated syndrome, or CIS, which is the first isolated attack. The Poser diagnosis criteria for MS does not allow doctors normally to give an MS diagnosis until a second attack takes place. Therefore the concept of "clinical MS", for a MS that can be diagnosed is sometimes too strong because until MS diagnosis has been established, nobody can tell whether the disease dealing with is MS.
Cases of MS before the CIS are sometimes found during other neurological inspections and are referred to as "subclinical MS". "Preclinical MS" refers to cases after the CIS but before the confirming second attack. After the second confirming attack the situation is referred to as CDMS (clinically defined multiple sclerosis).