Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System

Overview

Autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue of the brain, spinal cord, or optic nerves, causing inflammation and damage to neural structures. This abnormal immune response can target the myelin that insulates nerve fibers, the nerve cells themselves, or supporting tissue, leading to a wide range of neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, vision problems, pain, impaired coordination, and cognitive changes, depending on which areas are affected. Multiple sclerosis is the most common of these disorders, characterized by recurrent or progressive episodes of inflammation and demyelination, and related conditions include neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and autoimmune encephalitis. The course of these diseases varies widely, and management focuses on modulating the immune response and addressing symptoms. Within this journal's focus on multiple sclerosis and related disorders, relevant work includes a report of peripheral third cranial nerve palsy in a patient with a pediatric form of multiple sclerosis, illustrating one of the diverse neurological presentations that can arise from autoimmune involvement of the central nervous system. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to the topic.

Research published in this journal

1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.

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