Axonal damage is a late component of vacuolar myelopathy.
The role of axonopathy in myelin disorders recently has been examined. To investigate axonal pathologic changes in vacuolar myelopathy (VM), semiquantitative immunohistochemical stains for inflammation, axonal damage, and gliosis were performed on spinal cord sections from patients with AIDS with and without VM and from HIV-negative controls. Significant axonal damage was present in only moderate to severe VM, despite inflammation at all stages. The authors conclude that axonal damage is not present in early disease; it is present in moderate to severe vacuolar myelopathy and may contribute to clinical deficits in late stages of this disorder.
Rottnek
Matthew
M
Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Di Rocco
Alessandro
A
Laudier
Damien
D
Morgello
Susan
S
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000032:analysis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule