Pediatric Neuroimmunology and Demyelinating Disorders Clinic
We combine in depth diagnostic and cutting-edge therapeutics in the treatment of children with neuroimmunologic and neuroinflammatory disorders of the brain and spine.
When the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, or muscles, various neurological symptoms can occur. These may include acute or subacute cognitive problems, behavioral changes, unsteady gait, speech changes, tremor, weakness, numbness, abnormal eye movements, vision loss, and seizures. Neuroinflammatory disorders can happen in response to minor infections (post-infectious disorders), remote response to tumor (paraneoplastic disorders), or without any obvious cause. They may be single episodes with variable recovery, recurrent episodes (relapsing-remitting), or chronic progressive conditions.
Our care team includes neurologists with clinical and research expertise in a wide range of neuroimmunologic and neuroinflammatory disorders. Additionally, we work closely with our colleagues in epilepsy, movement disorders, neuropsychology and neuromuscular disorders to optimize your child’s care. Our team utilizes a holistic approach to care that works with your child and family to achieve the best care possible.
About the Pediatric Neuroimmunology and Demyelinating Disorders Clinic
- Conditions, Treatments and Services
- Our Expert Team
Conditions Treated
- Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
- Autoimmune Encephalitis/Encephalopathy including Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis
- Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System (CNS Vasculitis)
- Guillain Barre, Miller Fisher, Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis and other GQ1b disorders
- Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy and TPO Antibody Disorders
- Limbic Encephalitis
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Antibody Spectrum Disorders
- Myositis
- Neurologic Complications of Chemotherapy
- Neurologic Disease Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Collitis)
- Neurologic Disease Associated with Rheumatologic Conditions (Behcet’s disease, Lupus, anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome)
- Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
- Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome (OMS)
- Optic Neuritis
- Radiographically Isolated Syndrome (RIS)
- Sarcoidosis of the Nervous System
- Transverse Myelitis
Diagnostic Services
- Neuroimaging (MRI of brain, spine, optic nerves)
- Body imaging (MRI or CT)
- Lumbar puncture, with or without anesthesia, with special testing for neuroinflammation
- Specialized blood testing (autoimmune encephalitis panel, lymphocyte flow cytometry)
- Neuropsychological testing
- EEG, outpatient VEEG and prolonged inpatient VEEG
- EMG and Nerve conduction studies
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Visual Evoked Potentials
Therapeutic Services
Outpatient Infusion Center
- IVIG
- Rituximab
- Tysabri (natalizumab)
- IV Steroids (methylprednisolone)
- Other biological medications
- Inpatient and outpatient plasmapheresis
Outpatient Therapy Services
Our experts help diagnose and treat neuroimmunology and demyelinating disorders and connect children with other appropriate programs within the division when a diagnosis is determined.
Patient and Family Support
- Resources