Inflammatory diseases of the nervous system

What is it?

A group of inflammatory diseases that affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

What types of diseases are there?

• Infectious diseases: inflammation of the central nervous system, in response to pathogenic invaders (viruses or bacteria).
  • Meningitis (inflammation of the dura mater)
  • Encephalitis (infectious disease where the brain tissue outside the dura mater is also affected)
  • Myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord)
• Inflammatory diseases: inflammation of the central nervous system based on an deregulated defence mechanism of the body itself (auto-immune conditions).
  • Multiple sclerosis and related conditions
    Multiple sclerosis is the most common inflammatory disease: brain and spinal cord are affected in different places and at different times. Less frequent related conditions include neuromyelitis optica, ADEM and Susac syndrome.
  • Systemic diseases
    Inflammatory disease affecting multiple organs, including the brain and spinal cord. Examples: Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis, lupus erythematosus.
  • Other, rare, inflammatory disease
    These include, for example, auto-immune encephalitis, vasculitis, etc.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing these diseases can sometimes be simple, but it is often challenging. Common examinations include NMR examination of the brain and/or spinal cord and a lumbar puncture.

Treatment

Treatment is very different for infectious or inflammatory diseases.

Inflammatory diseases often require a multidisciplinary approach, by a team of physician-specialists and paramedics (physiotherapist, psychologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist).

Latest publication date: 02/08/2024
Supervising author: Dr Aers Isabelle