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Morillos MB, Borelli WV, Noll G, Piccini CD, Leite MB, Finkelsztejn A, Bianchin MM, Castilhos RM, Torres CM. Autoimmune encephalitis in a resource-limited public health setting: a case series analysis. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2024; 82:1-10. [PMID: 38325385 PMCID: PMC10849825 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) consists of a group of acquired diseases that affect the central nervous system. A myriad of phenotypes may be present at the onset. Due to the heterogeneity of clinical presentations, it is difficult to achieve uniformity for the diagnostic and therapeutic processes and follow-up strategies. OBJECTIVE To describe a series of patients diagnosed with AE in a resource-limited public hospital in southern Brazil and to analyze therapeutics and outcomes. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with AE at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from 2014 to 2022. Data collected included clinical presentation, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid testings, electroencephalogram, autoantibodies, treatments, outcomes, follow-up time, degree of neurological impairment, and mortality. RESULTS Data from 17 patients were retrieved. Eleven cases were classified as definite AE and 6 as possible AE. Autoantibodies were identified in 9 patients. Timing for diagnosis was impacted by the high costs associated with autoantibody testing. Most patients became functionally dependent (82.4%) and most survivors remained with autoimmune-associated epilepsy (75%). Five patients died during hospitalization, and one after a 26-month of follow-up. CONCLUSION In this resource-limited hospital, patients with AE had a worse clinical outcome than that previously described in the literature. Development of epilepsy during follow-up and mortality were greater, whilst functional outcome was inferior. Autoantibody testing was initially denied in most patients, which impacted the definitive diagnosis and the use of second-line therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Giovani Noll
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Serviço de Neurologia, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
| | | | - Martim Bravo Leite
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Serviço de Neurologia, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
| | | | - Marino Muxfeldt Bianchin
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Serviço de Neurologia, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
| | - Raphael Machado Castilhos
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Serviço de Neurologia, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
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Alam AM, Chen JPK, Wood GK, Facer B, Bhojak M, Das K, Defres S, Marson A, Granerod J, Brown D, Thomas RH, Keller SS, Solomon T, Michael BD. Increased volume of cerebral oedema is associated with risk of acute seizure activity and adverse neurological outcomes in encephalitis - regional and volumetric analysis in a multi-centre cohort. BMC Neurol 2022; 22:412. [PMID: 36344954 PMCID: PMC9639313 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-022-02926-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seizures can occur unpredictably in patients with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), and many suffer from poor long-term neurological sequelae. Establishing factors associated with acute seizures risk and poor outcomes could support clinical care. We aimed to conduct regional and volumetric analysis of cerebral oedema on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with AES. We assessed the relationship of brain oedema with acute seizure activity and long-term neurological outcome. METHODS In a multi-centre cohort study, adults and children presenting with an AES were recruited in the UK. The clinical and brain MRI data were retrospectively reviewed. The outcomes variables were inpatient acute seizure activity and neurological disability at six-months post-discharge. A poor outcome was defined as a Glasgow outcome score (GOS) of 1-3. We quantified regional brain oedema on MRI through stereological examination of T2-weighted images using established methodology by independent and blinded assessors. Clinical and neuroimaging variables were analysed by multivariate logistic regression to assess for correlation with acute seizure activity and outcome. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 69 patients (mean age 31.8 years; 53.6% female), of whom 41 (59.4%) had acute seizures as inpatients. A higher Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score on admission was a negative predictor of seizures (OR 0.61 [0.46-0.83], p = 0.001). Even correcting for GCS on admission, the presence of cortical oedema was a significant risk factor for acute seizure activity (OR 5.48 [1.62-18.51], p = 0.006) and greater volume of cerebral oedema in these cortical structures increased the risk of acute seizures (OR 1.90 [1.12-3.21], p = 0.017). At six-month post-discharge, 21 (30.4%) had a poor neurological outcome. Herpes simplex virus encephalitis was associated with higher risk of poor outcomes in univariate analysis (OR 3.92 [1.08-14.20], p = 0.038). When controlling for aetiology, increased volume of cerebral oedema was an independent risk factor for adverse neurological outcome at 6 months (OR 1.73 [1.06-2.83], p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS Both the presence and degree of cerebral oedema on MRIs of patients with AES may help identify patients at risk of acute seizure activity and subsequent long-term morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali M Alam
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Greta K Wood
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, Liverpool, UK
| | - Bethany Facer
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Maneesh Bhojak
- Department of Neuroradiology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kumar Das
- Department of Neuroradiology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sylviane Defres
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, Liverpool, UK
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Anthony Marson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Neurology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Julia Granerod
- Independent Scientific Consultant, formerly of Public Health England, London, UK
| | - David Brown
- UK Heath Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, UK
| | - Rhys H Thomas
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Simon S Keller
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Tom Solomon
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Neurology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Benedict D Michael
- Department of Clinical Infection Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
- The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, Liverpool, UK.
- Department of Neurology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
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Liu F, Huang T, Wang B, Wang C, Guo S. Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels are associated with poor outcome and relapse in autoimmune encephalitis. Neurosci Lett 2022; 775:136546. [PMID: 35202751 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests an association between dyslipidemia and autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between lipid profiles and prognosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) patients. METHODS This retrospective study consisted of 114 AE patients from September 2014 to September 2020. Data of clinical parameters, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), clinical features, comorbidities, therapeutic management, lipid profiles, modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores, outcomes, and relapses were collected. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between lipid profiles and outcomes of AE. Correlations between lipid profiles and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is an inflammatory marker, were assessed. RESULTS In the univariate logistic analysis, sex (P = 0.030), mental behavior disorder (P = 0.004), disturbance of consciousness (P = 0.002), mRS at study entry (P = 0.020), tumor comorbidity (P = 0.028), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.029), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) (P = 0.012), apolipoprotein B (apoB) (P = 0.036) and apoA-I/apoB (P = 0.001) levels were all associated with the unfavorable outcomes of patients. After adjustment for age, sex and mRS at study entry, lower apoA-I and apoA-I /apoB levels were still significantly associated with the unfavorable outcomes of patients. Low HDL-C (P = 0.048) and apoA-I levels (P = 0.026) were also significantly associated with the relapse of AE patients. HDL-C and apoA-I levels were negatively correlated with CRP levels in correlation analysis. CONCLUSIONS Lipid profiles, especially low HDL-C and apoA-I levels, are significantly associated with the poor outcomes and relapse of AE patients, and seem associated with inflammatory responses. HDL-C and apoA-I levels may be good candidates for predicting prognosis of AE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250022, China; Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Teng Huang
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250022, China
| | - Baojie Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250022, China
| | - Chunjuan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Shougang Guo
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China.
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Clinical Relevance of Cerebrospinal Fluid Antibody Titers in Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis. Brain Sci 2021; 12:brainsci12010004. [PMID: 35053749 PMCID: PMC8773744 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is the most common autoimmune encephalitis. To date, there has been no study on the relationship between antibody (Ab) titers and clinical phenotype. This study aims to clarify the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid Ab titers and clinical manifestations of anti-NMDAR encephalitis at onset. Seventy-six consecutive patients with a definite diagnosis were enrolled. The relationship between Ab titers and different onset symptoms including psychiatric symptoms, seizures, and memory deficits were analyzed. We further investigated the correlation between Ab titers and clinical severity as assessed by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the clinical assessment scale for autoimmune encephalitis (CASE), respectively. The Ab titers had a median value of 1:10 (range 1:1–1:100). There was no significant difference in titers among various clinical factors including gender and combination of tumor and other diseases (each p > 0.05). Patients presenting with psychiatric symptoms at onset had higher titers than those with seizures (p = 0.008) and memory deficits (p = 0.003). The mRS scores revealed a significant but weak correlation with Ab titers (r = 0.243, p = 0.034), while CASE scores did not correlate with the titers (p = 0.125). Our findings indicated that the Ab titers were associated with the type of onset symptoms, with a higher level of patients with psychiatric symptoms. Regarding the clinical severity, the titers showed a weak correlation with the mRS, but no correlation with the CASE.
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Etemadifar M, Aghababaei A, Nouri H, Kargaran PK, Mohammadi S, Salari M. Autoimmune encephalitis: the first observational study from Iran. Neurol Sci 2021; 43:1239-1248. [PMID: 34328580 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05400-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Even within the most populous countries in the Middle East, such as Iran, autoimmune encephalitis cases have been rarely reported. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe the demographic, clinical, and paraclinical characteristics of Iranian patients with autoimmune encephalitis positive for anti-neuronal autoantibodies. METHODS This cross-sectional study included all patients diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis and referred to our hospital, in Isfahan, Iran, from March 2016 to May 2020. Patients' demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and electroencephalographic features were obtained from their medical records. RESULTS We identified a total of 39 (21 females, 53.8%) patients with autoimmune encephalitis (mean age = 34.9 ± 12.8 years). The most commonly detected antibody was anti-NMDAR (n = 26, 66.7%), followed by anti-GABABR (n = 8, 20.5%), anti-Zic4 (n = 4, 10.3%), and anti-GAD65 (n = 1, 2.6%) antibodies, in descending order of frequency. Two anti-NMDAR-positive patients had a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and four had a prior history of herpes simplex encephalitis. Clinical presentations in patients positive for anti-Zic4 antibodies included cognitive decline (n = 4, 100%), seizures (n = 3, 75%), parkinsonism (n = 1, 25%), and stiff-person syndrome (n = 1, 25%). CONCLUSION This was the first case series of Iranian patients with autoimmune encephalitis with some interesting observations, including SLE-associated anti-NMDAR encephalitis, as well as an unusual concurrence of anti-Zic4 antibody positivity and cognitive problems, seizures, parkinsonism, and stiff-person syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Etemadifar
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Al-Zahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Aghababaei
- Al-Zahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Hosein Nouri
- Al-Zahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy, and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Isfahan, Iran
| | - Parisa K Kargaran
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Shaghayegh Mohammadi
- Al-Zahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehri Salari
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Sun Y, Ren G, Ren J, Shan W, Han X, Lian Y, Wang T, Wang Q. A Validated Nomogram That Predicts Prognosis of Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Multicenter Study in China. Front Neurol 2021; 12:612569. [PMID: 33897585 PMCID: PMC8060553 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.612569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this retrospective study was to derive and validate a reliable nomogram for predicting prognosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE). A multi-center retrospective study was conducted in four hospitals in China, using a random split-sample method to allocate 173 patients into either a training (n = 126) or validation (n = 47) dataset. Demographic, radiographic and therapeutic presentation, combined with clinical features were collected. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge was the principal outcome variable. A backward-stepwise approach based on the Akaike information criterion was used to test predictors and construct the final, parsimonious model. Multivariable analysis was conducted using logistic regression to develop a prognosis model and validate a nomogram using an independent dataset. The performance of the model was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves and a Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The final nomogram model considered age, viral prodrome, consciousness impairment, memory dysfunction and autonomic dysfunction as predictors. Model validations displayed a good level of discrimination in the validation set: area under the Receiver operator characteristic curve = 0.72 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.56–0.88), Hosmer–Lemeshow analysis suggesting good calibration (chi-square: 10.33; p = 0.41). The proposed nomogram demonstrated considerable potential for clinical utility in prediction of prognosis in autoimmune encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqian Sun
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoping Ren
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jiechuan Ren
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Shan
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiong Han
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan, China
| | - Yajun Lian
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
| | - Tiancheng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, China
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Shan W, Yang H, Wang Q. Neuronal Surface Antibody-Medicated Autoimmune Encephalitis (Limbic Encephalitis) in China: A Multiple-Center, Retrospective Study. Front Immunol 2021; 12:621599. [PMID: 33679765 PMCID: PMC7928315 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.621599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The epidemiological characteristics of patients with antibody-medicated autoimmune encephalitis in China remain unclear, and a large-scale epidemiological survey is necessary. Methods: A multiple-center retrospective study was performed. We collected 1,047 patients with suspected autoimmune encephalitis and ultimately enrolled 778 defined patients across centers in China. All patients were positive for serum [or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] antibodies. Demographic information and clinical data from January 2014 to January 2019 from 22 centers in China were reviewed. Results: A total of 778 patients with autoimmune encephalitis were enrolled in the study. In general, the ratio of males to females was ~1.2:1. The main subtypes of autoimmune encephalitis were NMDAR-AE (61.35%), LGI-1-AE (20.61%), and GABAbR-AE (12.40%). According to the characteristics of age of onset, the incidence of autoimmune encephalitis showed a “double peak” distribution entailing a 20-year-old age group and a 60-year-old age group. We next analyzed the proportion of patients with tumors in this cohort. More specifically, there were 34 patients with tumors and 85 with tumor marker positivity. Relapse occurred in 81 patients within at least 1 year's follow up study: 52 with NMDAR-AE (18.2%); 19 with LGI-1-AE (16.8%); 5 with GABAbR-AE (9%); and 3 with CASPR2-AE. Interpretation: Due to the vast differences in demographic features, the incidence of cancer and the genetic characteristics between the populations in China and Western countries, the demographics, sex distribution, concomitant tumor rate, clinical features, and relapse characteristics associated with autoimmune encephalitis in China shows a similar profile with Western countries with some minor differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shan
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Center for Clinical Medicine of Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Huajun Yang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Center for Clinical Medicine of Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,National Center for Clinical Medicine of Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
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