Emerging Subspecialties in Neurology: Neuroimmunology

Autoimmune and immune-mediated mechanisms are increasingly appreciated in many neurologic diseases. The goal of fellowship training is to develop an understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases with a focus on immunology that is not traditionally afforded to most trainees during residency or fellowship. Neuroimmunology is an expanding subspecialty with rapidly emerging developments from the clinical and basic sciences necessitating frequent change in clinical practice. Historically, the first international congress of neuroimmunology was held in 1982, with the actual founding of the International Society of Neuroimmunology not occurring until after the second international congress in 1987. The origins of neuroimmunology, however, pre-date the establishment of the society by nearly a century, and modern clinical neuroimmunology has its roots in the interdisciplinary collaboration of neurologists, pathologists, internists, and other specialists in the early 1950s. The field of neuroimmunology intersects many traditional neurology subspecialties, including diseases within epilepsy, movement disorders, neuromuscular, autonomic neurology, neuro-oncology, behavioral neurology, degenerative disorders, and demyelinating diseases. The author thanks Theresa O’Brien for reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript.