Herpes simplex virus encephalitis is a trigger of brain autoimmunity. Issue 2 (25th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Armangue, Thaís; Leypoldt, Frank; Málaga, Ignacio; Raspall‐Chaure, Miquel; Marti, Itxaso; Nichter, Charles; Pugh, John; Vicente‐Rasoamalala, Monica; Lafuente‐Hidalgo, Miguel; Macaya, Alfons; Ke, Michael; Titulaer, Maarten J.; Höftberger, Romana; Sheriff, Heather; Glaser, Carol; Dalmau, Josep
• Is Part Of: Annals of neurology. Volume 75:Issue 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 317
• Page End: 323
• Publication Date: 2014-02-25
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.24083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0364-5134

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>In 5 prospectively diagnosed patients with relapsing post–herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies were identified. Antibody synthesis started 1 to 4 weeks after HSE, preceding the neurological relapse. Three of 5 patients improved postimmunotherapy, 1 spontaneously, and 1 has started to improve. Two additional patients with NMDAR antibodies, 9 with unknown neuronal surface antibodies, and 1 with NMDAR and unknown antibodies, were identified during retrospective assessment of 34 HSE patients; the frequency of autoantibodies increased over time (serum, <italic>p</italic> = 0.004; cerebrospinal fluid, <italic>p</italic> = 0.04). The 3 retrospectively identified NMDAR antibody–positive patients also had evidence of relapsing post‐HSE. Overall, these findings indicate that HSE triggers NMDAR antibodies and potentially other brain autoimmunity. Ann Neurol 2014;75:317–323</p> </abstract>