DOI: 10.1177/13524585261493315 ISSN: 1352-4585
Availability of resources to apply the 2024 McDonald criteria: A global perspective
Natalia Gómez-Salazar, Paola A. Ortíz-Salas, Rebecca Wicklein, Charmaine Yam, Mateo Avilés-Gómez, Magdalena Casas, Marija Cauchi, Sofía D’Alessandro, Michela Galimberti, Panagiotis Gklinos, Fernando Maldonado-Higuera, Suhamny Navas-Peñaranda, Tatchaporn Ongphichetmetha, Alejandro A. Pelaez-Suarez, Wilson A. Polo-Orcasitas, André L. Guimarães de Queiroz, Audrey Reynolds, Neda Sattarnezhad, Raquel Tena-Cucala, Oana Vladacenco, Mario M. Barbosa-Rengifo, Wallace Brownlee, Mar TintoréBackground:
The 3rd ECTRIMS Winter School highlighted regional and global disparities in resources needed to implement the 2024 McDonald diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis.
Objectives:
To assess the availability of paraclinical tools and regional differences in access reported by neurologists in an online survey.
Results:
The survey was completed by 328 neurologists from 44 countries. Core diagnostic tools, including magnetic resonance imaging and oligoclonal band testing, were widely available. Access to advanced imaging, optic nerve assessment, and laboratory biomarkers varied across regions.
Conclusions:
Variability in access to key paraclinical tests may impact on the implementation of the 2024 McDonald criteria globally.