Shifting borders, crossing boundaries: The case of combined central and peripheral demyelination

The case report by Puthenparampil et al. suggests that heterogeneity of demyelinating diseases may be more complex than expected. The authors describe a female patient starting with isolated but relapsing myelitis (in the absence of oligoclonal bands or anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies) and later experiencing the simultaneous occurrence of inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and of a tumefactive hippocampal brain lesion responsive to immunotherapy. As testing for antibodies against established and novel auto-antigens including neurofascin-155 was negative, this case may be regarded as an example for the unfolding spectrum of combined central and peripheral demyelination (CCPD) syndromes with so far unknown immunological target(s).