Functional Recovery in Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background

Prospective observations of functional recovery are lacking in patients with autoimmune encephalitis defined by antibodies against synaptic proteins and neuronal cell surface receptors.

Methods

Adult patients with a diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis were included into a prospective registry. At 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up, the patients' modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was obtained.

Results

Patients were stratified into three groups according to their antibody (Ab) status: anti-NMDAR-Ab (n=12; group I), anti-LGI1/CASPR2-Ab (n=35; group II), and other antibodies (n=24; group III). A comparably higher proportion of patients in group I received plasma exchange/immunoadsorption and second line immunosuppressive treatments at baseline. A higher proportion of patients in group II presented with seizures. Group III mainly included patients with anti-GABA

Conclusions

The different dynamics in the recovery of patients with certain autoimmune encephalitides have important implications for clinical trials. The high proportion of patients with significant disability at 3 months after diagnosis in groups I and III points to the need for improving treatment options. More distinct scores rather than the mRS are necessary to differentiate potential neurological improvements in patients with anti-LGI1-/CASPR2-encephalitis.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2021 Seifert-Held, Eberhard, Lechner, Macher, Hegen, Moser, Jacob, Puttinger, Topakian, Guger, Kacar, Zoche, De Simoni, Seiser, Oberndorfer, Baumgartner, Struhal, Zimprich, Sellner, Deisenhammer, Enzinger, Reindl, Rauschka, Berger and Höftberger.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.