Neuropathology of multiple sclerosis

Significant progress in our understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been enabled by remarkable advances in genetics, expression profiling, proteomics, bioinformatics, and systems-biology tools. However, the successful application of these approaches to advancing the field is contingent upon an appreciation that MS is biologically diverse and histologically complex. MS pathology differs based on stage of demyelinating activity, topographical region, structural, and immunopathological features, disease phase, age at onset, course, and duration. This chapter will review the dynamic neuropathology of MS and discuss its clinical and pathogenic implications.