What is Neuroimmunology?
The term “neuroimmunology” covers a wide scope of diseases affecting both the immune and nervous systems. Some of these diseases include:
- Multiple Sclerosis, one of the most common neurological diseases, affects up to 1 million people in the United States.
- Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) spectrum disorders are central nervous system disorders that can affect the spinal cord or vision.
- Autoimmune Encephalitis which causes irritation or swelling of the brain.
- Myelopathyis injury to the spinal cord which can be due to inflammation, compression, or disc degeneration.
- Neurosarcoidosis is an autoimmune condition that can affect varied parts of the body including the lungs, skin, or nervous system.
- Autoimmune Epilepsy
- Other neurologic complications of autoimmune disease
We treat people with all of these conditions. If you are unsure if a condition falls under this specialty, please contact one of our locations.
Testing & Diagnosing Neuroimmunology Conditions
In addition to a thorough medical history and detailed neurological examination, diagnostic testing for neuroimmunology conditions can include:
- An MRI to examine your brain and spinal cord.
- A Spinal tap (or lumbar puncture) can assess the fluid circulating around your brain and spinal cord for elevated disease markers of MS or other conditions.
- Blood tests to check for autoimmune markers, infection and other disease mimickers.
- Eye exams to look for evidence of damage to the optic nerves. You will be referred to an ophthalmologist for these tests.
Treatments
Treatment for neuroimmunology conditions target the immune system and may be oral, injectable or infused medication. Other treatments are used to target the specific symptoms patients are experiencing. The Neuroimmunology team works closely with a team of rehabilitation specialists, urologists, ophthalmologists and others to provide the best possible care to our patients.
For Referring Providers
From within Hartford HealthCare: In Epic, you can refer to Dr. Brian Wong or Dr. Derek Smith. When doing so, choose “neurology” as a specialty and “neuroimmunology” as the department.
From outside Hartford HealthCare: Referrals can be faxed to 860.621.0189 and our team will contact the patient to schedule. We will need the patient’s demographics, insurance information, any recent imaging or labs, and office notes from the last six months. Tell your patient to bring a copy of any MRIs on a disk so our specialists can review the images during the visit.
When you come in for your first appointment, please bring any related test results from other physicians. If you have had any imaging, such as MRI scans done outside of Hartford HealthCare please bring a copy of them on a disk. You can get copies through the radiology center where you had the tests done. If your testing was done in the Hartford HealthCare system, we can access them through your electronic medical record. Medical records from outside our system can also be faxed to us at 860.621.0189.
Please call to confirm that we received the records before coming to your first appointment. We ask that all new patients fill out the new patient paperwork and bring it to the first appointment. If you have misplaced the paperwork, please call the office and we will gladly resend it. Appointments typically last an hour. It is always a good idea to bring someone who knows you well.
Multiple Sclerosis Patient Support for New Patients