Demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) are one of the major causes of disability. The most common type is multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting more than two million people across world. Other uncommon types are neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and Idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases.
Comorbidities commonly coexist with MS and NMOSD. The co-occurrence can be due to direct causation, traditional risk factors, heterogeneity, or independence. In the direct causation, the mechanism underlying MS can predispose the development of other diseases. Immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive agents and environmental risk factors such as smoking and genetics can lead to increased co-occurrence of the diseases. While the lifespan of people with demyelinating disease has increased, this in turn has put patients at a greater risk of chronic comorbidities. The presence of antibodies in NMOSD patients could contribute to development of comorbid conditions, especially autoimmune comorbidities.
There are many reasons why comorbidity in patients with demyelinating disease is an important issue. Comorbidities contribute to neurological disability worsening, and an increased overall mortality. They impact health outcomes, demyelinating disease diagnoses, and management of disease. Additionally, comorbid medical conditions are associated with lesion accumulation and brain atrophy.
There are many aspects of comorbidities in relation to MS and related disorders that require further investigation, such as the exact causes of comorbidity, the progression patterns of comorbidity prior to and after demyelinating disease onset, and the most effective ways to measure comorbidity. Regarding NMOSD and MOGAD, there is little published data on the prevalence and incidence of comorbidity, as most of the research comes from small studies and case reports. Understanding the comorbidity pattern and risk of developing in people with demyelinating disease will be important for optimal treatment of the patients and for improved outcomes of the disease. Further research into exploring the association of demyelination disease with comorbidity is essential.
In this Research Topic, we welcome submission of basic, translational, and clinical research that describes the epidemiology of comorbid diseases in patients with MS and related disorders, and the mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of disease. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Systematic review, and Perspective articles. Subtopics include but are not limited to the following:
• The prevalence and incidence of comorbidity in relation to MS and related diseases
• The effect of comorbidity on the primary disease outcome
• The influence of immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive agents on comorbidity
• The genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic factors contributing to comorbidity development
• Research which explores the causal relationship between MS and comorbidity
• The management of comorbidities in patients with MS and related diseases
• The effect of demyelinating diseases on comorbidities
Topic Editor J Drulovic serves on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, AstraZeneca, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Roche, Teva, Zentiva, Amicus, Pharma Swiss, Medis and Hemofarm, and has received speaking honoraria from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Roche, Teva, Zentiva, Amicus, Pharma Swiss, Medis and Hemofarm. The other Topic Editors declare no conflict of interest with regard to this Research Topic.
Demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) are one of the major causes of disability. The most common type is multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting more than two million people across world. Other uncommon types are neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and Idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases.
Comorbidities commonly coexist with MS and NMOSD. The co-occurrence can be due to direct causation, traditional risk factors, heterogeneity, or independence. In the direct causation, the mechanism underlying MS can predispose the development of other diseases. Immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive agents and environmental risk factors such as smoking and genetics can lead to increased co-occurrence of the diseases. While the lifespan of people with demyelinating disease has increased, this in turn has put patients at a greater risk of chronic comorbidities. The presence of antibodies in NMOSD patients could contribute to development of comorbid conditions, especially autoimmune comorbidities.
There are many reasons why comorbidity in patients with demyelinating disease is an important issue. Comorbidities contribute to neurological disability worsening, and an increased overall mortality. They impact health outcomes, demyelinating disease diagnoses, and management of disease. Additionally, comorbid medical conditions are associated with lesion accumulation and brain atrophy.
There are many aspects of comorbidities in relation to MS and related disorders that require further investigation, such as the exact causes of comorbidity, the progression patterns of comorbidity prior to and after demyelinating disease onset, and the most effective ways to measure comorbidity. Regarding NMOSD and MOGAD, there is little published data on the prevalence and incidence of comorbidity, as most of the research comes from small studies and case reports. Understanding the comorbidity pattern and risk of developing in people with demyelinating disease will be important for optimal treatment of the patients and for improved outcomes of the disease. Further research into exploring the association of demyelination disease with comorbidity is essential.
In this Research Topic, we welcome submission of basic, translational, and clinical research that describes the epidemiology of comorbid diseases in patients with MS and related disorders, and the mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of disease. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Systematic review, and Perspective articles. Subtopics include but are not limited to the following:
• The prevalence and incidence of comorbidity in relation to MS and related diseases
• The effect of comorbidity on the primary disease outcome
• The influence of immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive agents on comorbidity
• The genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic factors contributing to comorbidity development
• Research which explores the causal relationship between MS and comorbidity
• The management of comorbidities in patients with MS and related diseases
• The effect of demyelinating diseases on comorbidities
Topic Editor J Drulovic serves on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, AstraZeneca, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Roche, Teva, Zentiva, Amicus, Pharma Swiss, Medis and Hemofarm, and has received speaking honoraria from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen, Merck Serono, Novartis, Sanofi, Roche, Teva, Zentiva, Amicus, Pharma Swiss, Medis and Hemofarm. The other Topic Editors declare no conflict of interest with regard to this Research Topic.