Arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging in an infant with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: A case report.
Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis
Arterial spin labelling perfusion
Autoimmune encephalitis
Magnetic resonance imaging
Journal
Brain & development
ISSN: 1872-7131
Titre abrégé: Brain Dev
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7909235
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2022
Jun 2022
Historique:
received:
30
08
2021
revised:
31
01
2022
accepted:
06
03
2022
pubmed:
30
3
2022
medline:
29
4
2022
entrez:
29
3
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis characterized by complex neuropsychiatric syndromes and the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies against NMDAR. The characteristics of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in children, particularly infants, are unclear due to difficulties in neurologic assessment such as psychiatric symptoms. Additionally, subtle or non-specific findings of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) make early diagnosis even more difficult. Herein, we present the first case of infant anti-NMDAR encephalitis in which perfusion imaging demonstrated marked abnormalities and the absence of conventional MRI findings. The patient was an 11-month-old boy who was admitted because of seizure and prolonged fever. He presented with involuntary movements of the mouth and tongue. Brain MRI showed no morphological abnormalities, but three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion imaging showed reduced blood flow in the left temporal and frontal regions and the right cerebellum. After that, a positive anti-NMDAR antibody test result was received. Despite treatment with IVIG and methylprednisolone, the involuntary movements and autonomic dysfunction gradually became more prominent. After rituximab administration, the clinical symptoms improved slightly, and follow-up MRI revealed diffuse brain atrophy and improvement in the balance of brain perfusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of infantile anti-NMDAR encephalitis in which cerebral blood flow was evaluated using three-dimensional ASL perfusion imaging. Indeed, our case, which showed abnormalities only in ASL perfusion imaging, suggests that CBF assessment could aid in the early diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in infants.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis characterized by complex neuropsychiatric syndromes and the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies against NMDAR. The characteristics of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in children, particularly infants, are unclear due to difficulties in neurologic assessment such as psychiatric symptoms. Additionally, subtle or non-specific findings of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) make early diagnosis even more difficult. Herein, we present the first case of infant anti-NMDAR encephalitis in which perfusion imaging demonstrated marked abnormalities and the absence of conventional MRI findings.
CASE PRESENTATION
METHODS
The patient was an 11-month-old boy who was admitted because of seizure and prolonged fever. He presented with involuntary movements of the mouth and tongue. Brain MRI showed no morphological abnormalities, but three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion imaging showed reduced blood flow in the left temporal and frontal regions and the right cerebellum. After that, a positive anti-NMDAR antibody test result was received. Despite treatment with IVIG and methylprednisolone, the involuntary movements and autonomic dysfunction gradually became more prominent. After rituximab administration, the clinical symptoms improved slightly, and follow-up MRI revealed diffuse brain atrophy and improvement in the balance of brain perfusion.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of infantile anti-NMDAR encephalitis in which cerebral blood flow was evaluated using three-dimensional ASL perfusion imaging. Indeed, our case, which showed abnormalities only in ASL perfusion imaging, suggests that CBF assessment could aid in the early diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in infants.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35346541
pii: S0387-7604(22)00038-9
doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2022.03.001
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
0
Spin Labels
0
Types de publication
Case Reports
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
405-409Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.