Introduction

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, demyelinating, degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Even if the history of MS seems to start with the descriptions of Cruveilhier and Charcot, previous reports can be traced back since the fourteenth century. The autoimmune nature of the disease has received more and more support, but notwithstanding the great amount of specific research, it has not been possible till now to identify the primary aetiology. Neuro-pathological and neuro-imaging data have demonstrated the widespread involvement of both white and gray matter.