Emerging Challenges: Neurological Manifestations of Systemic Diseases and Medication-Induced Neurological Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Neurologic complications of systemic disease include any neurologic disorder caused by a condition that originates outside of the nervous system. The diagnosis of the systemic disease may be well established or unknown when the neurologic complications develop. The pathogeneses for these complications of systemic disease are wide-ranging, although sometimes the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unclear. The systemic disease may either cause a complication in the nervous system through the same mechanisms as it does in other organs (e.g., inflammation from vasculitis), or the effect on the nervous system may be entirely different from the pathogenesis of the systemic disease (e.g., malabsorption from a gastrointestinal disorder causing the development of a peripheral neuropathy or cognitive impairment).

The range and breadth of diseases of the nervous system caused by immunological, infective, inflammatory, degenerative, or metabolic disturbances are extensive. While neurological symptoms often arise in patients with established diagnoses, it is also possible for a neurological symptom to be the presenting feature of an undiagnosed systemic disorder. It is, therefore, imperative to consider underlying systemic diseases when assessing a patient for neurological complaints, looking for supportive clinical findings, laboratory abnormalities, and imaging features in the appropriate clinical context. These conditions are frequently treatable, and, in some instances, also curable. Therefore, their recognition and treatment impact the outcomes of these patients.

A broad spectrum of neurological presentations may be caused or precipitated by drugs, both prescribed and non-prescribed. This can be at first presentation or in cases with already established neurological disease. Doctors have a responsibility to prevent iatrogenic symptoms by carefully prescribing and identifying drug-induced syndromes. Failure to consider a drug-induced cause may lead to inappropriate investigations and management. Current drugs (prescribed, over the counter, herbal remedies, and drugs of misuse) and how they are taken, drugs tried previously, and the reason for discontinuation, treatment response, adverse effects, allergies, and intolerances should be taken into account. Recent immunizations may also be of importance.

In this Special Issue, we encourage proposals that critically analyze and discuss current knowledge on the neurological manifestations of systemic diseases and medication-induced neurological disorders. We aim to present research and theoretical papers addressing all aspects, from pathophysiologic mechanisms and diagnosis to therapeutic strategies for these neurological conditions. Thus, we invite colleagues working and/or involved in any field to submit their work for publication in this Special Issue. Original papers, as well as reviews, are welcome.

Dr. Elena Cecilia Rosca
Dr. Amalia Cornea
Guest Editors

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