Out of 129 patients suspected to have MS, most of them identified themselves as Black (44%), White (28%), and Hispanic (17%). Based on 2017 McDonald diagnostic criteria, MS was not confirmed in 56 patients (43%), further referred to as MS mimics. A higher proportion of White patients were diagnosed with MS mimics than Non-white patients (P=0.031, Chi-square test).
The most common MS mimics were nonspecific demyelinating disease (NDD, 9 patients), MOG antibody disease (MOGAD, 7 patients), and Tuberculosis (TB, 6 patients). A TB diagnosis was statistically more prevalent among Black than White non-MS patients (P=0.026).
14% of patients whom we diagnosed with MS mimics were treated with disease modifying therapies (DMTs) prior to their visit in our center. Non-English speakers were disproportionately represented in this group (14% of non-English vs 5% of English speakers, not statistically significant).