Antineuronal Antibodies and Infectious Pathogens in Severe Acute Pediatric Encephalitis. (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Jainn-Jim; Lin, Kuang-Lin; Chiu, Cheng-Hsun; Hsia, Shao-Hsuan; Wang, Huei-Shyong; Chou, I-Jun; Lin, Yun-Tong
• Is Part Of: Journal of child neurology. Volume 29:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: antineuronal antibody -- severe acute encephalitis -- immune-mediated inflammation; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1177/0883073812461944
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0738

Abstract

The pathogenesis of acute encephalitis is divided into either direct infection or by immune-mediated inflammation, but the cause is still unknown. This retrospective study aimed to screen antineuronal antibodies in children with severe acute encephalitis. Thirty-four children (22 boys and 12 girls) underwent assessments such as antineuronal antibodies survey for autoimmune encephalitis and polymerase chain reaction/viral culture and antibody assays for all commonly recognized causes of infectious encephalitis. Sixteen (47.1%) were positive for autoantibodies, including antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in 16 and voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies in 1. Sixteen patients (47.1%) had presumed infectious etiologies, including 6 with influenza, 6 with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 3 with enterovirus, and 1 with herpes simplex virus. In this study, influenza and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are the main presumed causes of severe acute encephalitis in children, although an immune-mediated mechanism may also play a role.