title: Pathophysiology of immune-mediated demyelinating neuropathies-part I: neuroscience.
abstract: This first article of this review deals with neuroscientific aspects of immune-mediated demyelinating neuropathies. It describes the anatomy and physiology of normal myelinated axons, methods of studying peripheral nerve physiology, pathophysiological consequences of demyelination or damage at the node of Ranvier, and the mechanisms that may lead to impaired axonal membrane dysfunction or axonal degeneration. This article (part I) will be followed by a second (part II) dealing with clinical aspects of these neuropathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Section Neuromuscular Disorders, F02.230, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hessel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Franssen
authors.forename: Dirk C G
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Straver
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009488:Neurosciences; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: demyelination; excitability; immune-mediated neuropathy; ion channels; safety factor