Walsh & Hoyt: Demyelination

Destruction of myelindemyelinationoccurs in a variety of diverse inflammatory disorders. In some of these disorders, myelin breakdown is secondary to destruction of neurons: neuronolytic demyelination. In others, demyelination is the primary process and associated with relative preservation of affected axons. This form of demyelination is called periaxial demyelination. Periaxial demyelination may result from viral infections and is a prominent feature in the group of disorders known as demyelinating diseases, of which multiple sclerosis is the best known.