Multiple Sclerosis and Related Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases
This chapter describes the basic neuropathology of multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases. It specifically addresses the nature of multiple sclerosis lesions, characterized by inflammation, selective primary demyelination with partial preservation of axons, remyelination, and reactive astroglial scar formation. Attention is paid to the importance of demyelinated lesions in the gray matter, and it discusses the differences of the pathology between the relapsing and the progressive stage of the disease. Finally, it summarizes the similarities and differences between multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, such as acute multiple sclerosis, Baló concentric sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.