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Pediatric inflammatory brain diseases: a diagnostic approach
1Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Current Opinion in Rheumatology
|July 23, 2014
Summary
Autoimmune brain diseases are complex and evolving. This review helps differentiate primary central nervous system vasculitis and autoimmune encephalitis for better diagnosis and treatment in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Autoimmune-mediated inflammatory brain diseases are an expanding medical field.
- Diagnosing and treating children with new-onset neuropsychiatric deficits presents challenges due to evolving disease spectra.
- Heterogeneity in clinical features and diagnostic test limitations can overwhelm providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on primary central nervous system vasculitis and autoimmune encephalitis.
- To identify key distinguishing features for a diagnostic approach.
- To aid in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric autoimmune brain diseases.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recently published studies.
- Analysis of distinguishing features between primary central nervous system vasculitis and autoimmune encephalitis.
- Guidance for a diagnostic approach to inflammatory brain diseases.
Main Results:
- The spectrum of inflammatory brain disease is expanding with diverse phenotypes and immune targets.
- Recent advances improve diagnostic capabilities for these conditions.
- Successful treatment is possible even in severely affected children.
Conclusions:
- The brain's susceptibility to autoimmunity and its broad phenotypic spectrum are increasingly recognized.
- Differentiating inflammatory brain diseases remains challenging.
- A systematic diagnostic approach is beneficial.
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