Demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system

Author(s):  
Siddharthan Chandran ◽  
Alastair Compston

Clinicians suspect demyelination when episodes reflecting damage to white matter tracts within the central nervous system occur in young adults. The paucity of specific biological markers of discrete demyelinating syndromes places an emphasis on clinical phenotype—temporal and spatial patterns—when classifying demyelinating disorders. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the most common demyelinating disorder, becomes probable when these symptoms and signs recur, involving different parts of the brain and spinal cord. Other important demyelinating diseases include post-infectious neurological disorders (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis), demyelination resulting from metabolic derangements (central pontine myelinosis), and inherited leucodystrophies that may present in children or in adults. Accepting differences in mechanism, presentation, and treatment, two observations can usefully be made when classifying demyelinating disorders. These are the presence or absence of inflammation, and the extent of focal vs. diffuse demyelination. Multiple sclerosis is prototypic for the former, whereas dysmyelinating disorders, such as leucodystrophies are representative of the latter....

2020 ◽  
pp. 6026-6042
Author(s):  
Alasdair Coles ◽  
Siddharthan Chandran

The common feature of all of the demyelinating diseases is that, initially at least, the oligodendrocyte-myelin unit is the primary target, with the axon comparatively spared. There are a range of causes, both acquired and inherited, which this chapter explores. Multiple sclerosis, the prototypic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, is the leading causing of neurological disability among young adults in many industrialized nations. In the last two decades therapies have been licensed with increasing capacity to suppress the inflammation which underlies the condition, leading to durable benefits to patients. The next most prevalent demyelinating disease is neuromyelitis optica. Originally thought to be a variant of multiple sclerosis, it is now recognized to be a distinct disease whose treatment is radically different from multiple sclerosis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 106689692199356
Author(s):  
Fleur Cordier ◽  
Lars Velthof ◽  
David Creytens ◽  
Jo Van Dorpe

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare immune-mediated inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Its characteristic perivenular demyelination and inflammation aid in the differential diagnosis with other inflammatory demyelinating diseases. Here, we present a clinical case of ADEM, summarize its histological hallmarks, and discuss pitfalls concerning the most important neuropathological differential diagnoses.


2021 ◽  
pp. 540-547
Author(s):  
W. Oliver Tobin

Multiple sclerosis is the most common idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), with a prevalence of 1 in 500 to 1 in 2,000 people, depending on geography and various other factors. Idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases are a group of related disorders that include acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein–immunoglobulin G–associated CNS demyelinating disease.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (9B) ◽  
pp. 685-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandro Luiz de Andrade Matas ◽  
Felipe von Glehn ◽  
Gustavo Bruniera Peres Fernandes ◽  
Carlos Augusto Senne Soares

The central nervous system demyelinating diseases are a group of disorders with different etiologies, characterized by inflammatory lesions that are associated with loss of myelin and eventually axonal damage. In this group the most studied ones are multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optic (NMO) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The cerebrospinal fluid is essential to differentiate between these different syndromes and to define multiple sclerosis, helping to assess the probability of Clinical Isolated Syndrome turn into multiple sclerosis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 164-170
Author(s):  
Rachel Gottlieb-Smith ◽  
Amy Waldman

AbstractAcquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) present with acute or subacute monofocal or polyfocal neurologic deficits localizing to the central nervous system. The clinical features of distinct ADS have been carefully characterized including optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. These disorders may all be monophasic disorders. Alternatively, optic neuritis, partial transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis may be first presentations of a relapsing or polyphasic neuroinflammatory disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica. The clinical features of these disorders and the differential diagnosis are discussed in this article.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1408-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulay Alper

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is an immune-mediated inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, commonly preceded by an infection. It principally involves the white matter tracts of the cerebral hemispheres, brainstem, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis mainly affects children. Clinically, patients present with multifocal neurologic abnormalities reflecting the widespread involvement in central nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid may be normal or may show a mild pleocytosis with or without elevated protein levels. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) shows multiple demyelinating lesions. The diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis requires both multifocal involvement and encephalopathy by consensus criteria. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis typically has a monophasic course with a favorable prognosis. Multiphasic forms have been reported, resulting in diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing these cases from multiple sclerosis. In addition, many inflammatory disorders may have a similar presentation with frequent occurrence of encephalopathy and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1261-1267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren B Krupp ◽  
Marc Tardieu ◽  
Maria Pia Amato ◽  
Brenda Banwell ◽  
Tanuja Chitnis ◽  
...  

Background: There has been tremendous growth in research in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and immune mediated central nervous system demyelinating disorders since operational definitions for these conditions were first proposed in 2007. Further, the International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group (IPMSSG), which proposed the criteria, has expanded substantially in membership and in its international scope. Objective: The purpose of this review is to revise the 2007 definitions in order to incorporate advances in delineating the clinical and neuroradiologic features of these disorders. Methods: Through a consensus process, in which input was sought from the 150 members of the Study Group, criteria were drafted, revised and finalized. Final approval was sought through a web survey. Results: Revised criteria are proposed for pediatric acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, pediatric clinically isolated syndrome, pediatric neuromyelitis optica and pediatric MS. These criteria were approved by 93% or more of the 56 Study Group members who responded to the final survey. Conclusions: These definitions are proposed for clinical and research purposes. Their utility will depend on the outcomes of their application in prospective research.


Author(s):  
Enrique Herrera-Acosta ◽  
Gustavo Guillermo Garriga Martina ◽  
Jorge Alonso Suárez-Pérez ◽  
Eliseo Alejandro Martínez-García ◽  
Enrique Herrera-Ceballos

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that shares similar immunopathogenic mechanisms with chronic plaque psoriasis, such as the overexpression of the Th17 pathway. We report the case of a patient with multiple sclerosis and severe chronic plaque psoriasis successfully treated with ixekizumab (anti IL-17A and IL-17A/F monoclonal antibody). The treatment achieved a complete skin clearance (PASI 100 response) with no adverse events or evidence of progression of the neurological disease. Keywords: Psoriasis; Ixekizumab; Multiple sclerosis


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document