Neuroimmunology Services

What is neuroimmunology?

Neuroimmunology is a field of medicine which studies the interaction between the immune and nervous systems.

The immune system normally protects the body against infection and disease. However, under certain circumstances the body can attack itself, causing damage to the brain, nerves, and other tissues. This can cause a variety of symptoms, such as problems with your vision, muscle weakness or ability to touch and feel normally. These symptoms vary depending upon the specific causes of your illness. The effects can be relatively short (weeks), but in some cases can be permanent.

Drug treatments may be required that involve dampening down your immune system to reduce the damage it is causing to your body.

We will provide you with more information about your condition and any treatments that are recommended at your consultation, and you can find useful links to further information below.

Neuroimmunology Clinic

The Neuroimmunology Clinic is run by a specialist team of consultant neurologists with extensive experience in neuroimmunology, supported by junior doctors and a specialist nurse who will provide help and advice regarding your condition, treatment and any other problems that you might encounter.

At your appointment you will be seen by a member of the team who will review your symptoms and may arrange further tests, such as brain scans or blood tests, and advise on a course of treatment if required. Your condition will be discussed by the team before and after each appointment, so even if you see a different doctor, they will be fully informed of your medical history, ongoing treatment and any future plans.

Further appointments may be required to monitor your progress.

You may also remain under the care of other teams such as vasculitis or immunology. We maintain close contacts with other specialists to make sure everyone knows what is going on.

Contacts

For routine enquiries regarding clinic appointments please call 01223 217346.

For advice regarding your treatment or if you feel that your symptoms have worsened, please contact one of the clinical team on 01223 349363 (09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday) or email the neuroimmunology team. (please allow 24 hours for a response during the week and until Monday for messages left over the weekend).

Further information

The links below also provide useful advice regarding various conditions

Brain and Spine (opens in a new tab)

Encephalitis (opens in a new tab)

Gain (opens in a new tab)

Lupus UK (opens in a new tab)

Myelitis (opens in a new tab)

Neurological Alliance (opens in a new tab)

NHS conditions (opens in a new tab)

NMO UK (opens in a new tab)

Vasculitis (opens in a new tab)