Neuroimmunology/Multiple Sclerosis

The Neuroimmunology/Multiple Sclerosis Division has a comprehensive outpatient clinical care program that has earned awards for its excellence. The multiple sclerosis (MS) program is a designated Comprehensive MS Care Center by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which means it has been recognized for its comprehensive clinical, research and educational programs. The program includes exhaustive care for those suffering from any level of MS and has close affiliations with many clinical services within University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and throughout the region. Patients can be seen throughout Western Pennsylvania, the United States and various international locations.

For an even more comprehensive, up-to-date listing of information about the Neuroimmunology/Multiple Sclerosis Division, please refer to their website at www.ms.pitt.edu.

Conditions Treated Other Than Multiple Sclerosis 

  • Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
  • Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) antibody disease
  • Autoimmune Encephalitis
  • CNS involvement by Sjogren's syndrome
  • Sarcoidosis and mixed connective tissue disease

Other Services Provided

  • Lumbar punctures
  • Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT)
  • Post-void bladder ultrasonography
  • State-of-the-art MRI scanning, including 3Tesla magnets and refined protocols, evoked potentials
  • Neuropsychological/cognitive testing

Subspecialists Utilized by Division Physicians

  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
    • Baclofen pumps, focal neurolytic treatments, orthotics, power mobility, assistive technology, adaptive driving
  • Neuro-urology
  • Neuro-gastroenterology
  • Neurosurgery
    • Trigeminal neuralgia rhizotomies, cyber-knife, or decompressive procedures
  • Neurovestibular
  • Swallowing disorders evaluations
    • Modified barium swallows and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
  • Neuro-auditory specialists

Research

Division physicians have involvement in multi-center studies of novel oral, injectable and infusion therapies for MS. Zongqi Xia, MD, PhD, currently has a large, long-term observational research study to understand how individuals of MS and related disorders differ from one another. In Dr. Xia’s study specifically, factors that influence individual variations in disease course and treatment response will be investigated.

In addition to medical students and neuroscience students frequently present in the office with faculty, the division also provides Neuroimmunology/Multiple Sclerosis fellowship training for neurologists wishing to subspecialize in MS care. Presentations by divisional faculty at the American Academy of Neurology, Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meetings encompass many areas of MS care. To learn more about the educational opportunities offered by the neuroimmunology/MS division with the department, please contact a faculty member.

Faculty

Fellows

  • Ahmed Abbas, MD