Multiple Sclerosis Terminology: Clinically Isolated Syndrome Explained

 

Clinically Isolated Syndrome, or CIS, may be defined as the1st clinical event that is concerning for a possible “attack.” People who experience a CIS at at increased risk to later develop MS. In this video I review the three most common presentations of CIS, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, and a brainstem syndrome.

I also explain how the brain MRI and spinal fluid (CSF) analysis can help us further clarify the risk to develop MS after a CIC into high risk or low risk.

Many MS providers tend to off early MS disease modifying therapy to hi risk CIS patients. We tend to monitor low risk CIS patients with MRI scans over several years.

I discuss how it is now sometimes possible to confirm an MS diagnosis after CIS without waiting for 2nd attack or even further testing. Lastly, I review the importance of early diagnosis and how it can have a long term benefit to the patient.