Guide To The Types Of Myelitis

Leukomyelitis

Leukomyelitis describes inflammation of the spinal cord limited to an individual's white matter. The brain and spinal cord are composed of different types of tissue that perform different functions. Gray matter contains dendrites, neural cells, and axon terminals, while white matter contains myelin and axons. The white matter may also be referred to as superficial tissue due to its location in the outer parts of the spinal cord and brain. White matter functions to regulate and transmit nerve signals from the cerebrum to the spinal cord and other brain tissues. Within the spinal cord, white matter functions as a complex network of wiring that carries information throughout the central nervous system. When this white matter in the spinal cord becomes inflamed, it is called leukomyelitis. The most common causes of this type of myelitis are cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, adrenoleukodystrophy, and other inherited childhood diseases. When there is inflammation in the white matter of the spinal cord, the effectiveness of a patient's blood-brain barrier becomes compromised. This process allows for further infiltration of the central nervous system by antibodies and peripheral immune cells. This compounded inflammation can result in damage to the protective myelin sheathing that insulates the neural axons and allows for the smooth transmission of signals.

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