Brain Lesions May Serve as Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica 2011;19(8):13. A majority of patients with neuromyelitis optica also experience disease-specific brain lesions that could help distinguish neuromyelitis optica from multiple sclerosis. MONTREAL—Imaging studies of patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO)–spectrum disorders reveal that effects of the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibody, a marker of the disease, may extend beyond the spinal cord and optic nerve, according to researchers
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered a type of cell that may contribute to autoimmune disease. The findings also suggest why diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis strike women more frequently than men
Washington, Feb 12 (ANI): Scientists have discovered a new technology to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease from blood samples long before symptoms appear. ? The new method uses synthetic molecules to seek out and identify disease-specific antibodies and could be a big help in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease and immune system-related diseases like multiple sclerosis and lupus, the researchers predict. ? “If we can find a way to detect the disease in its earliest stages – before cognitive impairment begins – we might be able to stop it in its tracks by developing new treatment strategies,” said Dr
Damage to the central nervous system can often result from the progression of an autoimmune disease. Demyelination often occurs as a result, where the myelin sheath on a neuron’s axons is destroyed due to excessive autoimmune responses (1).This destruction ultimately leads to lesions in the brain or spinal cord (2,3).The uncontrolled autoimmune responses can be primary, where the infiltrates begin the destruction of the myelin sheath, or secondary, where infiltrates respond to previous CNS damage and subsequently further the damage (4) . Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most noted example of a CNS demyelinating autoimmune disease (3,4), with 350,000-500,000 individuals currently diagnosed(3)