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Journal of Pediatric Neurology
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761485
Original Article

Determination of Clinical, Electrophysiological, and Radiological Characteristics of Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalopathy

Mesut Güngör 
1   Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child Neurology, Selçuk University, Konya, Türkiye
,
Merve Öztürk 
2   Department of Child Neurology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Türkiye
,
Adnan Deniz 
2   Department of Child Neurology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Türkiye
,
Defne Alikılıç 
2   Department of Child Neurology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Türkiye
,
Ömer Karaca 
2   Department of Child Neurology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Türkiye
,
Yonca Anık 
3   Department of Radiology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Türkiye
,
Bülent Kara 
2   Department of Child Neurology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Türkiye
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Abstract

Autoimmune encephalopathy (AE) is a group of diseases with subacute onset, that represents a wide clinical spectrum, manifested by complex neuropsychiatric symptoms and signs. In this study, the data of 27 patients diagnosed and followed up in our clinic with the diagnosis of AE between 2011 and 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Out of 27 patients, 6 were definite seropositive AE, 2 of them met the diagnostic criteria for limbic encephalitis, and the remaining 19 were probable AE. Nowadays, we see AEs with increasing frequency. While there is a generally established approach in the diagnosis and treatment of seropositive patients, there are still hesitations and diagnostic difficulties in seronegative AEs. In this study, clinical, radiological, and prognostic features of definite and probable AE patients diagnosed in a tertiary pediatric neurology clinic were documented. It is thought that pediatric neurologists have an important responsibility to increase awareness about AE in pediatricians. In the future, it is predicted that AE will be diagnosed more frequently with new antibodies and one has to differentiate it from viral encephalitis and neuropsychiatric syndromes and diseases.

Keywords

autoimmune encephalopathy - limbic encephalitis - anti-NMDA antibody

Ethics Committee Approval

Approval for this study was obtained from the Local Ethics Committee of Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine.




Publication History

Received: 13 September 2022

Accepted: 02 January 2023

Article published online:
07 February 2023

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