CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS IN CHILDREN AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background & Objective: To study the clinical spectrum and functional outcome of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) in children.

Methodology: This Cross-Sectional Study was carried out at the Pediatric Neurology Department, University of Child Health Sciences and Children Hospital Lahore (A tertiary care hospital) after taking ethical approval from the Institutional review board via letter no.661. The study participants were asked a validated questionnaire after taking informed consent from the parents of the children.

Results: Majority of the study participants were males presented with encephalopathy. Cerebrospinal fluid NMDA receptor antibodies were negative in almost two third of the patients. As far as clinical spectrum of AE is concerned, disorganized speech, agitation, primary febrile illness, anxiety, paranoia, social withdrawal, change in speech, disorganized speech, insomnia, severe cognitive dysfunction, fluctuation of in blood pressure and increase in seizure frequency were highly prevalent. Response to steroids was good among half of the study participants and remaining showed improved response to intravenous immunoglobulins and rituximab.

Conclusion: AE has shown a very diverse range of symptoms in our study participants and it gives a whole new perspective to the clinical spectrum of AE for the future consultants and researchers.