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Thorsson M, Galazka MA, Hajjari P, Fernell E, Delafield-Butt J, Gillberg C, Johnson M, Åsberg Johnels J, Hadjikhani N. A novel tablet-based motor coordination test performs on par with the Beery VMI subtest and offers superior temporal metrics: findings from children with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:1421-1436. [PMID: 37052647 PMCID: PMC10130113 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06612-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders are often associated with coordination problems. Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) constitutes a specific example of acute and complex symptomatology that includes difficulties with motor control. The present proof-of-concept study aimed at testing a new, bespoke tablet-based motor coordination test named SpaceSwipe, providing fine-grained measures that could be used to follow-up on symptoms evolution in PANS. This test enables computationally precise and objective metrics of motor coordination, taking into account both directional and spatial features continuously. We used SpaceSwipe to assess motor coordination in a group of children with PANS (n = 12, assessed on in total of 40 occasions) and compared it against the motor coordination subtest from the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) 6th edition, traditionally used to follow-up symptomatology. Using a bivariate linear regression, we found that 33 s of the directional offset from tracking a moving target in SpaceSwipe could predict the Beery VMI motor coordination (VMI MC) raw scores (mean absolute error: 1.75 points). Positive correlations between the predicted scores and the VMI MC scores were found for initial testing (radj = 0.87) and for repeated testing (radj = 0.79). With its short administration time and its close prediction to Beery VMI scores, this proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential for SpaceSwipe as a patient-friendly tool for precise, objective assessment of motor coordination in children with neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Thorsson
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- , Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Martyna A Galazka
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Parisa Hajjari
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Fernell
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Christopher Gillberg
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mats Johnson
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jakob Åsberg Johnels
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Section of Speech and Language Pathology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nouchine Hadjikhani
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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2
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Pallanti S, Di Ponzio M. PANDAS/PANS in the COVID-19 Age: Autoimmunity and Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation as Trigger Agents? CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:648. [PMID: 37189896 PMCID: PMC10136983 DOI: 10.3390/children10040648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 impacted the entire world's population, frequently resulting in long-lasting neuropsychiatric complications. Furthermore, social distancing, lockdowns and fear for one's personal health worsen individual psychological wellbeing, especially in children and adolescents. Herein, we discuss the results of studies that specifically reported data about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or infection on children with Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Disorders (PANS). Furthermore, we present the cases of five adolescents with PANS whose symptomatology increased following SARS-CoV-2 infection. What emerged from this study was that COVID-19 resulted in the exacerbation of obsessions, tics, anxiety and mood symptoms and decreased wellbeing. Moreover, new symptoms, as well as new PANS cases, are reported to have arisen after COVID-19 infection. Here, we hypothesize that the pathogenic mechanisms of silent viruses, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, are related to neuroinflammation, immune responses and reactivation, with additional roles played by social-isolation-related inflammatory processes. The discussion of PANS, which represents a model of immune-mediated neuropsychiatric manifestations, is particularly relevant, with the aim of uncovering the mechanisms that lead to neuropsychiatric Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS). Prospects for future studies and treatment implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pallanti
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, 50121 Florence, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Michele Di Ponzio
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Studies, Institute of Neurosciences, 50121 Florence, Italy
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3
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Colvin MK, Erwin S, Alluri PR, Laffer A, Pasquariello K, Williams KA. Cognitive, Graphomotor, and Psychosocial Challenges in Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 33:90-97. [PMID: 33261524 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20030065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) is characterized by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other neurobehavioral symptoms following group A streptococcal infection. The cardinal neuropsychiatric symptoms are believed to reflect an aberrant autoimmune or inflammatory response that may selectively disrupt basal ganglia function. The investigators examined whether neuropsychological skills associated with frontostriatal networks (executive functions and motor skills) are affected in patients with PANDAS following resolution of acute symptoms and the degree to which there are persistent social, emotional, and academic difficulties. METHODS Twenty-seven patients ages 6-14 years (mean age=9.63 years [SD=1.78]; male, N=22) completed neuropsychological testing as part of routine clinical care. Performances on measures of intellectual ability, executive function, motor skills, and academic skills are reported, as well as parent-reported emotional, behavioral, and social skills. RESULTS On neuropsychological measures, patients exhibited average intellectual functioning with relative and mild difficulties in skills supporting cognitive efficiency, including attentional regulation, inhibitory control, and processing speed. Dexterity was normal but graphomotor skills were reduced. Core reading, math, and writing skills were within expectations, but reading and math fluency were reduced, and the majority of patients received special education services or accommodations. Parents reported high levels of concern about anxiety, depression, inattention, hyperactivity, and social skills. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicated relative difficulties with aspects of executive and motor functions. Although evaluations were performed following the resolution of acute symptoms, ongoing and significant academic difficulties and emotional, behavioral, and social concerns were targets for clinical intervention and support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Colvin
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Colvin, Erwin, Alluri, Laffer, Pasquariello, Williams); and Connecticut College, New London, Conn. (Pasquariello)
| | - Savannah Erwin
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Colvin, Erwin, Alluri, Laffer, Pasquariello, Williams); and Connecticut College, New London, Conn. (Pasquariello)
| | - Priyanka R Alluri
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Colvin, Erwin, Alluri, Laffer, Pasquariello, Williams); and Connecticut College, New London, Conn. (Pasquariello)
| | - Alexandra Laffer
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Colvin, Erwin, Alluri, Laffer, Pasquariello, Williams); and Connecticut College, New London, Conn. (Pasquariello)
| | - Kathryn Pasquariello
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Colvin, Erwin, Alluri, Laffer, Pasquariello, Williams); and Connecticut College, New London, Conn. (Pasquariello)
| | - Kyle A Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Colvin, Erwin, Alluri, Laffer, Pasquariello, Williams); and Connecticut College, New London, Conn. (Pasquariello)
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4
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Endres D, Pollak TA, Bechter K, Denzel D, Pitsch K, Nickel K, Runge K, Pankratz B, Klatzmann D, Tamouza R, Mallet L, Leboyer M, Prüss H, Voderholzer U, Cunningham JL, Domschke K, Tebartz van Elst L, Schiele MA. Immunological causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: is it time for the concept of an "autoimmune OCD" subtype? Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:5. [PMID: 35013105 PMCID: PMC8744027 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01700-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly disabling mental illness that can be divided into frequent primary and rarer organic secondary forms. Its association with secondary autoimmune triggers was introduced through the discovery of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). Autoimmune encephalitis and systemic autoimmune diseases or other autoimmune brain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, have also been reported to sometimes present with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Subgroups of patients with OCD show elevated proinflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies against targets that include the basal ganglia. In this conceptual review paper, the clinical manifestations, pathophysiological considerations, diagnostic investigations, and treatment approaches of immune-related secondary OCD are summarized. The novel concept of "autoimmune OCD" is proposed for a small subgroup of OCD patients, and clinical signs based on the PANDAS/PANS criteria and from recent experience with autoimmune encephalitis and autoimmune psychosis are suggested. Red flag signs for "autoimmune OCD" could include (sub)acute onset, unusual age of onset, atypical presentation of OCS with neuropsychiatric features (e.g., disproportionate cognitive deficits) or accompanying neurological symptoms (e.g., movement disorders), autonomic dysfunction, treatment resistance, associations of symptom onset with infections such as group A streptococcus, comorbid autoimmune diseases or malignancies. Clinical investigations may also reveal alterations such as increased levels of anti-basal ganglia or dopamine receptor antibodies or inflammatory changes in the basal ganglia in neuroimaging. Based on these red flag signs, the criteria for a possible, probable, and definite autoimmune OCD subtype are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Endres
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Thomas A Pollak
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Karl Bechter
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, Günzburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Denzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karoline Pitsch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Nickel
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kimon Runge
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Pankratz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - David Klatzmann
- AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Biotherapy (CIC-BTi) and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (i2B), Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France
| | - Ryad Tamouza
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, AP-HP, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Luc Mallet
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, AP-HP, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Marion Leboyer
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Translational Neuropsychiatry, AP-HP, DMU IMPACT, FHU ADAPT, Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France
| | - Harald Prüss
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Voderholzer
- Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Janet L Cunningham
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Basics in Neuromodulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Miriam A Schiele
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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5
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Prato A, Gulisano M, Scerbo M, Barone R, Vicario CM, Rizzo R. Diagnostic Approach to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS): A Narrative Review of Literature Data. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:746639. [PMID: 34778136 PMCID: PMC8580040 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.746639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) are clinical conditions characterized by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or tics, often accompanied by other behavioral symptoms in a group of children with streptococcal infection. PANDAS-related disorders, including pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), childhood acute neuropsychiatric symptoms (CANS), and pediatric infection triggered autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders (PITANDs), have also been described. Since first defined in 1998, PANDAS has been considered a controversial diagnosis. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed on PubMed and Scopus databases, searching for diagnostic criteria and diagnostic procedures of PANDAS and related disorders. We propose a test panel to support clinicians in the workout of PANDAS/PANS patients establishing an appropriate treatment. However, further studies are needed to improve our knowledge on these acute-onset neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Prato
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, Italy
| | - Mariangela Gulisano
- Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, Italy
| | - Miriam Scerbo
- Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, Italy
| | - Rita Barone
- Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, Italy
| | - Carmelo M Vicario
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Renata Rizzo
- Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, Italy
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6
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Bubier JA, Philip VM, Quince C, Campbell J, Zhou Y, Vishnivetskaya T, Duvvuru S, Blair RH, Ndukum J, Donohue KD, Foster CM, Mellert DJ, Weinstock G, Culiat CT, O'Hara BF, Palumbo AV, Podar M, Chesler EJ. A Microbe Associated with Sleep Revealed by a Novel Systems Genetic Analysis of the Microbiome in Collaborative Cross Mice. Genetics 2020; 214:719-733. [PMID: 31896565 PMCID: PMC7054020 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.303013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiome influences health and disease through complex networks of host genetics, genomics, microbes, and environment. Identifying the mechanisms of these interactions has remained challenging. Systems genetics in laboratory mice (Mus musculus) enables data-driven discovery of biological network components and mechanisms of host-microbial interactions underlying disease phenotypes. To examine the interplay among the whole host genome, transcriptome, and microbiome, we mapped QTL and correlated the abundance of cecal messenger RNA, luminal microflora, physiology, and behavior in a highly diverse Collaborative Cross breeding population. One such relationship, regulated by a variant on chromosome 7, was the association of Odoribacter (Bacteroidales) abundance and sleep phenotypes. In a test of this association in the BKS.Cg-Dock7m +/+ Leprdb/J mouse model of obesity and diabetes, known to have abnormal sleep and colonization by Odoribacter, treatment with antibiotics altered sleep in a genotype-dependent fashion. The many other relationships extracted from this study can be used to interrogate other diseases, microbes, and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vivek M Philip
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of Tennessee, Tennessee 37830
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | | | - James Campbell
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
- Department of Natural Sciences, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri 64468
| | | | - Tatiana Vishnivetskaya
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of Tennessee, Tennessee 37830
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | - Suman Duvvuru
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of Tennessee, Tennessee 37830
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | - Rachel Hageman Blair
- Department of Biostatistics, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, 14260
| | | | - Kevin D Donohue
- Signal Solutions, LLC, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40508
| | - Carmen M Foster
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | | | | | - Cymbeline T Culiat
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of Tennessee, Tennessee 37830
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | - Bruce F O'Hara
- Signal Solutions, LLC, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40508
| | - Anthony V Palumbo
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | - Mircea Podar
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
| | - Elissa J Chesler
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of Tennessee, Tennessee 37830
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee 37830
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7
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Gamucci A, Uccella S, Sciarretta L, D'Apruzzo M, Calevo MG, Mancardi MM, Veneselli E, De Grandis E. PANDAS and PANS: Clinical, Neuropsychological, and Biological Characterization of a Monocentric Series of Patients and Proposal for a Diagnostic Protocol. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2019; 29:305-312. [PMID: 30724577 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2018.0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Whether PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) and PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection) represent true clinical entities is debated and data for a characteristic phenotype are still controversial. In this study, we aim to characterize clinical, neuropsychological, and biochemical aspects in a sample of PANS and PANDAS patients. Methods: Patients fulfilling a clinical diagnosis of PANS or PANDAS from 2014 to 2017 were enrolled. Neurological and psychiatric examination and biochemical and instrumental assessment results were collected. A neuropsychological battery was administered. For comparison purposes, a control group of patients with Sydenham's chorea (SC) was evaluated. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed. Results: Seven subjects received a diagnosis of PANS, 12 of PANDAS, and 11 of SC. Clinical presentation of PANS children showed statistically significant differences compared with both PANDAS and SC, in particular, with the presence of obsessive symptoms, behavioral regression, and somatic symptoms in the first group. Moreover, all PANS patients showed some neuropsychological deficits in visual-motor abilities, short- and long-term memory, and processing speed. Conclusions: Our experience confirms that patients with PANS had a complex clinical presentation and a compromised neuropsychological profile with respect to patients with PANDAS or SC. However, the absence of biological markers or instrumental alterations made the diagnosis of the two entities, PANS and PANDAS, a matter of exclusion. For these reasons, we propose a pilot diagnostic protocol that (when applied in a prospective manner) will allow comparison with similar childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive or tic disorders, and efficacy evaluation of different therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Gamucci
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sara Uccella
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lucia Sciarretta
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria D'Apruzzo
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Calevo
- 2 Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Committees Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Margherita Mancardi
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Edvige Veneselli
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa De Grandis
- 1 Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Children's Sciences, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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8
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Frankovich J, Swedo S, Murphy T, Dale RC, Agalliu D, Williams K, Daines M, Hornig M, Chugani H, Sanger T, Muscal E, Pasternack M, Cooperstock M, Gans H, Zhang Y, Cunningham M, Bernstein G, Bromberg R, Willett T, Brown K, Farhadian B, Chang K, Geller D, Hernandez J, Sherr J, Shaw R, Latimer E, Leckman J, Thienemann M, PANS/PANDAS Consortium. Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Part II-Use of Immunomodulatory Therapies. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2017; 27:574-593. [PMID: 36358107 PMCID: PMC9836706 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2016.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a clinically heterogeneous disorder with a number of different etiologies and disease mechanisms. Inflammatory and postinfectious autoimmune presentations of PANS occur frequently, with some clinical series documenting immune abnormalities in 75%-80% of patients. Thus, comprehensive treatment protocols must include immunological interventions, but their use should be reserved only for PANS cases in which the symptoms represent underlying neuroinflammation or postinfectious autoimmunity, as seen in the PANDAS subgroup (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders associated with Streptococcal infections). Methods: The PANS Research Consortium (PRC) immunomodulatory task force is comprised of immunologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, infectious disease experts, general pediatricians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and basic scientists with expertise in neuroimmunology and PANS-related animal models. Preliminary treatment guidelines were created in the Spring of 2014 at the National Institute of Health and refined over the ensuing 2 years over conference calls and a shared web-based document. Seven pediatric mental health practitioners, with expertise in diagnosing and monitoring patients with PANS, were consulted to create categories in disease severity and critically review final recommendations. All authors played a role in creating these guidelines. The views of all authors were incorporated and all authors gave final approval of these guidelines. Results: Separate guidelines were created for the use of immunomodulatory therapies in PANS patients with (1) mild, (2) moderate-to-severe, and (3) extreme/life-threatening severity. For mildly impairing PANS, the most appropriate therapy may be "tincture of time" combined with cognitive behavioral therapy and other supportive therapies. If symptoms persist, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or short oral corticosteroid bursts are recommended. For moderate-to-severe PANS, oral or intravenous corticosteroids may be sufficient. However, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is often the preferred treatment for these patients by most PRC members. For more severe or chronic presentations, prolonged corticosteroid courses (with taper) or repeated high-dose corticosteroids may be indicated. For PANS with extreme and life-threatening impairment, therapeutic plasma exchange is the first-line therapy given either alone or in combination with IVIG, high-dose intravenous corticosteroids, and/or rituximab. Conclusions: These recommendations will help guide the use of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapy in the treatment of PANS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Frankovich
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Susan Swedo
- Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tanya Murphy
- Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Russell C. Dale
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, the Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dritan Agalliu
- Pathology and Cell Biology (in Neurology and Pharmacology), Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Kyle Williams
- Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program in the OCD and Related Disorders Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Daines
- Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, The University of Arizona College of Medicine Tuscon, Tuscon, Arizona
| | - Mady Hornig
- Epidemiology, Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Harry Chugani
- Pediatric Neurology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware
| | - Terence Sanger
- Neurology, University of Southern California Pediatric Movement Disorders Center, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Eyal Muscal
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Mark Pasternack
- Pediatric Infectious Disease, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Cooperstock
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Hayley Gans
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Yujuan Zhang
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Madeleine Cunningham
- Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Gail Bernstein
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Reuven Bromberg
- Pediatric Rheumatology, Miami Rheumatology, LLC, Miami, Florida
| | - Theresa Willett
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Kayla Brown
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Bahare Farhadian
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Kiki Chang
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Daniel Geller
- Pediatric OCD and Tic Disorder Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph Hernandez
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Janell Sherr
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Richard Shaw
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Elizabeth Latimer
- Pediatric Neurology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - James Leckman
- Child Psychiatry, Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Margo Thienemann
- Stanford PANS Clinic and Research Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
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9
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Murphy TK, Patel PD, McGuire JF, Kennel A, Mutch PJ, Parker-Athill EC, Hanks CE, Lewin AB, Storch EA, Toufexis MD, Dadlani GH, Rodriguez CA. Characterization of the pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome phenotype. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2015; 25:14-25. [PMID: 25314221 PMCID: PMC4340632 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2014.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) is a subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) marked by an abrupt onset or exacerbation of neuropsychiatric symptoms. We aim to characterize the phenotypic presentation of youth with PANS. METHODS Forty-three youth (ages 4-14 years) meeting criteria for PANS were assessed using self-report and clinician-administered measures, medical record reviews, comprehensive clinical evaluation, and laboratory measures. RESULTS Youth with PANS presented with an early age of OCD onset (mean=7.84 years) and exhibited moderate to severe obsessive compulsive symptoms upon evaluation. All had comorbid anxiety and emotional lability, and scored well below normative means on all quality of life subscales. Youth with elevated streptococcal antibody titers trended toward having higher OCD severity, and presented more frequently with dilated pupils relative to youth without elevated titers. A cluster analysis of core PANS symptoms revealed three distinct symptom clusters that included core characteristic PANS symptoms, streptococcal-related symptoms, and cytokine-driven/physiological symptoms. Youth with PANS who had comorbid tics were more likely to exhibit a decline in school performance, visuomotor impairment, food restriction symptoms, and handwriting deterioration, and they reported lower quality of life relative to youth without tics. CONCLUSIONS The sudden, acute onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, high frequency of comorbidities (i.e., anxiety, behavioral regression, depression, and suicidality), and poor quality of life capture the PANS subgroup as suddenly and severely impaired youth. Identifying clinical characteristics of youth with PANS will allow clinicians to diagnose and treat this subtype of OCD with a more strategized and effective approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya K. Murphy
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Priyal D. Patel
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Joseph F. McGuire
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Allison Kennel
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - P. Jane Mutch
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - E. Carla Parker-Athill
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Camille E. Hanks
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Adam B. Lewin
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric A. Storch
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Megan D. Toufexis
- Department of Pediatrics, Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Gul H. Dadlani
- Department of Pediatrics, All Children's Heart Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida
| | - Carina A. Rodriguez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
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10
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Murphy TK, Parker-Athill EC, Lewin AB, Storch EA, Mutch PJ. Cefdinir for recent-onset pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders: a pilot randomized trial. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2015; 25:57-64. [PMID: 25299463 PMCID: PMC4340343 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2014.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies suggest that the unexplained sudden and severe onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tics may be infection or immune precipitated. Beta lactam antibiotics may be neuroprotective beyond their antimicrobial efficacy. We examine the preliminary safety and efficacy of cefdinir in reducing obsessive-compulsive and/or tic severity in children with new-onset symptoms. METHOD Twenty subjects were randomized to receive placebo or cefdinir for 30 days for the treatment of recent-onset OCD and/or tics. The placebo group received a comparable inactive treatment matched for taste, color, and consistency. The Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) were the primary outcome measures utilized. RESULTS Subjects receiving cefdinir saw notable improvements in tic symptoms, with 44.4% showing at least a 25% reduction in YGTSS (mean decrease=9.5) scores compared with 9.1% of the placebo group (mean decrease=0.13). Despite improvements, significant group differences were not observed for YGTSS (F [1, 13]=4.03, p=0.066) although there were moderate differences between group treatment effects (d=0.72). For OCD symptoms, subjects receiving cefdinir saw improvements in OCD symptoms, with 33.3% showing at least a 25% reduction in CY-BOCS scores (mean decrease=7.8) compared with 27.3% of the placebo group (mean decrease=4.7), but there were also no significant differences for CY-BOCS (F [1, 13]=0.385, p=0.546; d=0.24). CONCLUSIONS Subjects assigned to cefdinir exhibited notable, albeit nonstatistically significant, improvements in tic symptoms, compared with the placebo group. There were also some improvements in OCD symptoms, although these were not significant. Overall, cefdinir was well tolerated. Given these preliminary results, a fully powered study is warranted to explore the efficacy of cefdinir as a therapeutic tool for new-onset pediatric neuropsychiatric symptoms, particularly those that appear to be precipitated by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya K. Murphy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - E. Carla Parker-Athill
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Adam B. Lewin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric A. Storch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - P. Jane Mutch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
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11
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Williams KA, Swedo SE. Post-infectious autoimmune disorders: Sydenham's chorea, PANDAS and beyond. Brain Res 2014; 1617:144-54. [PMID: 25301689 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.09.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Infections, and the resulting immune response to these infections, have recently received increased recognition as pathogenic mechanisms for neuropsychiatric disorders. Sydenham's chorea (SC), a widely recognized post-streptococcal autoimmune disorder, represents a model for this proposed pathogenesis. In SC, a dysregulated immune response to a streptococcal infection is hypothesized to result in inflammation of neuronal networks, particularly the basal ganglia nuclei. The resulting dysfunction in the basal ganglia nuclei are hypothesized to lead to a constellation of adventitious movements and psychiatric symptoms, which investigations have shown are amenable to immunomodulatory therapies. PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infections) has been proposed as a variant of SC, and is hypothesized to share a pathogenic mechanism, despite a unique symptom profile of predominantly psychiatric symptoms. In this review, we present the clinical aspects of both disorders, the data for potential shared etiopathogenesis between them, and the evidence for the therapeutic use of immunomodulatory therapies for the symptoms of SC and PANDAS. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroimmunology in Health And Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Williams
- Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, MA 02114, United States.
| | - Susan E Swedo
- Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, MA, United States
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12
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Murphy TK, Gerardi DM, Parker-Athill EC. The PANDAS Controversy: Why (and How) Is It Still Unsettled? CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-014-0025-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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13
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Pozzi M, Pellegrino P, Carnovale C, Perrone V, Antoniazzi S, Perrotta C, Radice S, Clementi E. On the Connection Between Autoimmunity, tic Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: A Meta-Analysis on Anti-Streptolysin O Titres. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2014; 9:606-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s11481-014-9561-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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14
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Neuropsychological functioning in youth with obsessive compulsive disorder: an examination of executive function and memory impairment. Psychiatry Res 2014; 216:108-15. [PMID: 24508366 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Preliminary research suggests neuropsychological deficits in youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) similar to those in adults; however, small samples and methodological confounds limit interpretation. We aimed to examine the rates and clinical correlates of cognitive sequelae in youth with OCD, focusing on executive functioning and memory abilities. Youth ages 7-17 years with OCD (N=96) completed a hypothesis-driven neuropsychological battery (including the Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure, California Verbal Learning Test, and subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning) that primarily assessed executive functioning, memory and processing speed. Cognitive sequelae were identified in 65% of youth (37% using a more stringent definition of impairment). Magnitude of cognitive sequelae was not associated with OCD severity or age; however, greater neuropsychological impairments were found amongst youth prescribed atypical neuroleptics and those diagnosed with comorbid tic disorders. Comorbidity burden was associated with presence of neuropsychological impairment, but was not specific to any single test. Findings suggest that the presence of cognitive sequelae is prevalent amongst treatment-seeking youth with OCD. Deficits were found in executive functioning and non-verbal memory performance but these impairments were not associated with OCD severity.
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15
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Macerollo A, Martino D. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS): An Evolving Concept. TREMOR AND OTHER HYPERKINETIC MOVEMENTS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2013; 3. [PMID: 24106651 PMCID: PMC3783973 DOI: 10.7916/d8zc81m1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus infections (PANDAS) originated from the observational work of Swedo and collaborators, who formalized their definition in 1998 in a set of operational criteria. The application of these criteria, which focuses on tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms as core symptoms, has encountered difficulties, eventually leading to a high rate of misdiagnosis. In particular, the core feature represented by the association between newly diagnosed infections and neuropsychiatric symptom relapses in youths with this diagnosis could not be demonstrated by longitudinal studies. Exploratory studies aiming to identify clinical or cognitive features that could discriminate PANDAS from other pediatric obsessive-compulsive and tic disorders present methodological limitations, and therefore are not conclusive. Other behavioral features, in addition to obsessive-compulsive symptoms and tics, have been included in pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndromes (PANS) and childhood acute neuropsychiatric syndromes (CANS), two new concepts recently proposed in order to define a much broader clinical spectrum encompassing etiologically diverse entities. Given the uncertainties on the clinical definition of PANDAS, it is not surprising that evidence in support of a post-infectious, immune-mediated pathophysiology is also insufficient. Anti-dopamine receptor antibodies might be relevant to both Sydenham's chorea (SC)-the prototypical post-streptococcal neuropsychiatric disorder-and some rare forms of encephalitis targeting the basal ganglia specifically, but studies exploring their association with children fulfilling Swedo's criteria for PANDAS have been inconclusive. Moreover, we lack evidence in favor of the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis or tonsillectomy in patients fulfilling Swedo's criteria for PANDAS, whereas a response to immune-mediated treatments like intravenous immunoglobulins has been documented by one study, but needs replication in larger trials. Overall, the available evidence does not convincingly support the concept that PANDAS are a well-defined, isolated clinical entity subdued by definite pathophysiological mechanisms; larger, prospective studies are necessary to reshape the nosography and disease mechanisms of post-streptococcal acute neuropsychiatric disorders other than SC. Research is also under way to shed further light on a possible relationship between streptococcal infections, other biological and psychosocial stressors, and the complex pathobiology of chronic tic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Macerollo
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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