Citation classics in central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory demyelinating diseases encompass conditions like multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica.
• Understanding the historical trajectory and influential research in this field is crucial for advancing diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the characteristics of the most influential articles concerning CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases.
• To provide a historical perspective and guide future research directions in the field.

Main Methods:

• A bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited articles was conducted using the Web of Science database and Journal Citation Reports.
• Articles were analyzed based on citation counts, journals, publication years, authorship, article types, subjects, and key findings.
• Citation classics (over 100 citations) for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) were specifically identified and described.

Main Results:

• The top 100 cited articles were published between 1972 and 2011, primarily in journals like 'Brain' and 'The New England Journal of Medicine'.
• The majority of influential articles (87%) focused on multiple sclerosis, with fewer on NMO (9%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (2%), and optic neuritis (2%).
• Sixty-four percent of the articles originated from the United States and the United Kingdom, with an average of 664 citations per article.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis highlights the historical research landscape of CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases.
• The findings serve as a valuable guide for researchers, indicating key areas of focus and potential future trends in the field.