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McDonald Criteria Part 2 – How to Use and How to Not Misuse the 2024 McDonald Criteria Symposium

Presented by 

Daniel Reich, MD, PhD

Activity Overview

Year

2026

CREDIT HOURS

2.25

CREDIT/S AVAILABLE

AAPA, ACPE, ANCC, CME, IPCE, Certificate of Completion

Level of Information

Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

Duration

Course Duration: 2h10m
$97.00

About This Activity

The 2024 revisions of the McDonald criteria involve major changes with the aim of increasing sensitivity and specificity for making an earlier and accurate diagnosis of MS. Part 2 applies the revised criteria in people presenting with typical symptoms for a relapsing or progressive course, those with non-specific symptoms and Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS), and in specific patient populations (including pediatric, older, and those with co-morbidities). The typical, Green Flag MRI appearance suggestive of MS lesions is contrasted with the warning of Red Flag changes. Challenges in applying the criteria — including misdiagnosis, overlapping syndromes, and global applicability — are then discussed. Presentations are supported by interactive case discussions.

Target Audience

  • This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nursing professionals, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, dietitians, researchers, advocates, and other members of the healthcare team involved in the management of patients with MS.

Learning Objectives

  • Compare MS models of care in order to support the provision of team-based, comprehensive care via the most appropriate model for a given practice setting that appropriately incorporates roles and responsibilities of clinicians and ensures the delivery of evidence-based MS care.
  • Summarize methods to monitor treatment outcomes including patient self-report, automated self-assessment, data from wearable devices, clinician reported outcomes, imaging, and biomarkers in order to optimize their utilization in clinical practice and research.
  • Review the current understanding of diagnostic criteria, phenotypes, and variants of MS and other neuroimmune conditions to promote accurate diagnosis, initiation of appropriate therapy and monitoring of outcomes.
  • Identify the roles and interactions of genetics and epigenetics, the microbiome, environmental factors, age, comorbidities, and risk behaviors as factors contributing to pathogenesis and course of neuroimmune conditions including MS, MOGAD, NMOSD, and other disorders.
  • Examine innovations in diagnostic, rehabilitative, adaptive, communication, and educational technology that have an impact on the care of patients with neuroimmune disease throughout the spectrum of the disease.
  • Incorporate technology appropriately to enhance care and research in MS and neuroimmune disorders.

Course Content

McDonald Criteria Part 2 – How to Use and How to Not Misuse the 2024 McDonald Criteria

  • Applying the McDonald Criteria in People with Typical MS Presentations
    38:02
  • Applying the McDonald Criteria in People with Non-specific Symptoms and RIS (Radiologically Isolated Syndrome)
    26:20
  • Applying the McDonald Criteria in Special Patient Populations
    20:11
  • Green and Red Flag MS Lesions
    26:47
  • Challenges in Applying the McDonald Criteria-Misdiagnosis, Overlapping Syndromes and Global Applicability
    19:32