Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.0
2.8
Journals
Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Advances in Immune-Mediated Disorders of the Nervous System in Childhood
share announcement

Advances in Immune-Mediated Disorders of the Nervous System in Childhood

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2026) | Viewed by 3524

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Martino Ruggieri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: child neurology; neurocutaneous disorders; immune-mediated disease of the central and peripheral nervous system; epilepsy; brain infections; history of neurology
Dr. Andrea Domenico Praticò

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Pediatrics, Deparment of Medicine and Surgery, University Kore of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: child neurology; neurocutaneous disorders; immune-mediated disease of the central and peripheral nervous system; epilepsy; neurogenetics; movement disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, our understanding of immune-mediated disorders affecting the pediatric nervous system has significantly evolved. From classical autoimmune encephalitides to novel neuroinflammatory syndromes, these conditions pose unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in children. Early recognition and appropriate treatment are critical for improving long-term outcomes, yet the heterogeneity in clinical presentation, biomarkers, and treatment responses demands a multidisciplinary approach. This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest advances in the field, including new insights into pathophysiological mechanisms, updates on diagnostic criteria, innovative immunotherapeutic strategies, and emerging biomarkers. Contributions will cover a broad spectrum of disorders such as autoimmune encephalitis, pediatric multiple sclerosis, MOGAD, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, and parainfectious or post-vaccinal syndromes. We invite original research, case series, and reviews that enhance our understanding and management of immune-mediated neurological diseases in childhood, with the goal of supporting early diagnosis, precision treatment, and improved quality of life for affected patients.

Prof. Dr. Martino Ruggieri
Dr. Andrea Domenico Praticò
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • autoimmune encephalitis
  • pediatric neuroinflammation
  • immune-mediated CNS disorders
  • childhood multiple sclerosis
  • MOG antibody disease
  • neuroimmunology
  • immunotherapy in children
  • neuromyelitis optica

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

25 pages, 6229 KB  
Review
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM): Current View into Etiopathogenesis and Clinical Features
by Klara Ferenc, Piotr Semik and Justyna Paprocka
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(2), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16020201 - 9 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3076
Abstract
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that predominantly affects children and young adults. ADEM typically follows an infectious or, less commonly, immunization-related trigger, and despite decades of clinical observation, its etiopathogenesis remains only [...] Read more.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that predominantly affects children and young adults. ADEM typically follows an infectious or, less commonly, immunization-related trigger, and despite decades of clinical observation, its etiopathogenesis remains only partially understood. Clinically, the diagnosis of ADEM continues to pose significant challenges due to the absence of disease-specific biomarkers and its clinical and radiological overlap with other acquired demyelinating syndromes. This narrative review aims to summarize and critically discuss current knowledge on ADEM, with particular emphasis on its etiopathogenesis and clinical characteristics, highlighting the potential implications of recent research for clinical practice and management of this disease. Particular emphasis is placed on post-infectious immune mechanisms, including molecular mimicry, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, loss of immune tolerance, and neuroinflammatory cascades. A wide spectrum of infectious triggers—viral, bacterial, parasitic—as well as post-vaccination, post-transplantation, paraneoplastic, metabolic, and host-related genetic factors are discussed in the context of immune dysregulation leading to CNS demyelination. We also highlight characteristic clinical and neuroimaging features that may aid in differentiating ADEM from other demyelinating syndromes, while acknowledging current diagnostic limitations. The integration of recent advances in ADEM immunopathogenesis with established clinical and radiological insights underscores the complexity of this disorder and highlights the evolving nature of current concepts regarding its diagnosis and clinical heterogeneity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Immune-Mediated Disorders of the Nervous System in Childhood)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-1
Back to TopTop