Chronic inflammation and axonal injury were found even in older patients.
Inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases seem to have predilection for the optic nerves (NEJM JW Neurol Feb 12 2021 and Neurology 2021; 96:e482). In this study, investigators obtained autopsy tissue samples to evaluate differences among the CNS demyelinating diseases. Samples were available for 46 cases, which included multiple sclerosis (MS) in 29, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in 6, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in 6, and controls in 5.
Among those with MS, demyelination was evident in 83%, with inflammatory activity in 74% of samples with demyelination. Five of 9 patients older than 60 years had mixed active-inactive plaques. Diffuse activated microglia and lymphocytes were identified in nonlesiona…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAlexion Pharmaceuticals; Amgen; Astoria; Biogen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Celltrion; Genentech; Hoffmann-La Roche; Genzyme; EMD Serono; Immpact-Bio; Immunic Therapeutics; Kyverna; Lundbeck; Novartis; Sandoz; TG Therapeutics
Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; U.S. Department of Defense
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesConsortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (Treasurer)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAlexion Pharmaceuticals; Amgen; Astoria; Biogen; Bristol Myers Squibb; Celltrion; Genentech; Hoffmann-La Roche; Genzyme; EMD Serono; Immpact-Bio; Immunic Therapeutics; Kyverna; Lundbeck; Novartis; Sandoz; TG Therapeutics
Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; U.S. Department of Defense
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesConsortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (Treasurer)