BACKGROUND Identifying highly sensitive and reliable neurological exam components are crucial in recognizing clinical deficiencies. This study aimed to investigate finger tapping performance differences between patients with CNS demyelinating lesions and healthy control subjects. METHODS Twenty-three patients with multiple sclerosis or clinically isolated syndrome with infratentorial and/or c...

OBJECTIVE To determine seroprevalence of neuromyelitis optica (NMO)-IgG in childhood CNS inflammatory demyelinating disorders. METHODS We analyzed demographic, clinical, and radiologic data in a blinded fashion and assessed serum NMO-IgG status for 87 children: 41 with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), 17 with NMO, 13 with monophasic/recurrent optic neuritis (ON), 13 with transve...

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) originate in specific areas of the developing central nervous system (CNS). Once generated, they migrate towards their destinations where they differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes. In the adult, 5-8% of all cells in the CNS are OPCs, cells that retain the capacity to proliferate, migrate, and differentiate into oligodendrocytes. Indeed, these endogen...

BACKGROUND Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) represents first neurological symptoms suggestive of demyelinating lesion in the central nervous system (CNS). Currently, there are no sufficient immunological or genetic markers predicting relapse and disability progression, nor there is evidence of the efficacy of registered disease modifying treatments (DMTs), such as intramuscular interferon bet...

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with a large spectrum of extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs), mostly immunologic/rheumatologic in nature owing to B-cell proliferation and clonal expansion. Neurological complications are thought to be immune-mediated or secondary to invasion of neural tissues by HCV, as postulated in transverse myelitis and encephalopathic forms. Prim...

Brain biopsy plays a crucial role in the exploration of suspect white matter lesions in the differential diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) and inflammatory demyelination. We present the case of a previously healthy, immunocompetent woman, aged fifty-nine, who developed a histologically confirmed demyelinating white matter lesion months prior to the manifestation of a ...

BACKGROUND Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, monophasic, demyelinating disease of the CNS which sometimes could be refractory to traditional treatment. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of fulminant ADEM which is treated with combination of corticosteroid, intravenous immunoglobulin and cyclosporine. CONCLUSION Immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine may be effe...

Multiple sclerosis is the most frequent demyelinating disease in the human CNS characterized by inflammation, demyelination, relative axonal loss and gliosis. Remyelination occurs, but is frequently absent or restricted to a small remyelinated rim at the lesion border. Impaired differentiation of oligodendroglial precursor cells is one factor contributing to limited remyelination, especially in...