[Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: two paediatric cases]
M Cristina González-Toro1, Rocío Jadraque-Rodríguez, Ángela Sempere-Pérez
1Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, 03010 San Vicente del Raspeig, Espana.
Insights
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a treatable autoimmune disorder in children. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improved outcomes and reduced relapse risk.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody encephalitis is an increasingly recognized autoimmune neurological disorder in children.
- This condition presents with diverse neurological and psychiatric symptoms, posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- Two pediatric cases are presented with similar clinical presentations.
- Case 1: A 5-year-old girl with seizures, altered consciousness, movement disorders, and autistic regression.
- Case 2: A 13-year-old girl with hemiparesis, abnormal movements, conduct disorder, and dysautonomia.
Findings:
- Both patients tested positive for anti-NMDA receptor antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid.
- Treatment involved corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, and rituximab in one case.
- Both patients showed favorable outcomes, with residual language disorder in one and a resolved relapse in the other.
Implications:
- Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a treatable condition.
- Early diagnosis and prompt treatment significantly improve patient prognosis.
- Timely intervention can reduce the likelihood of disease relapses.
Introduction:
Encephalitis associated to anti-N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies is an autoimmune neurological pathology that has been reported increasingly more frequently in the paediatric population in recent years. We report two cases from our own experience with similar clinical pictures.
Case Reports:
Case 1: a 5-year-old girl who began with clinical signs and symptoms of convulsions and altered consciousness, associated to movement disorders and regression of previously acquired abilities that developed into autism. Case 2: a 13-year-old girl who presented left-side hemiparesis, abnormal movements, conduct disorder and dysautonomia. In both cases positive anti-NMDA receptor antibodies were obtained in cerebrospinal fluid and they were diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. In the first case, treatment was established with intravenous perfusion of corticoids and immunoglobulins, and rituximab also had to be associated. In the second case, treatment consisted in corticoids and immunoglobulins. Progress was favourable in both cases, with a slight language disorder as a sequela in the first case and a relapse in the second case, with full resolution.
Conclusions:
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a treatable disorder and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, since this improves the prognosis and diminishes the chances of relapses.
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