Anti- N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Encephalitis

Anti- N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis has been shown to be a treatable form of autoimmune encephalitis, but there remains no standardized approach to immunotherapy. We designed an anonymous survey sent to members of the Child Neurology Society to identify the current practices among child neurologists. A total of 151 pediatric neurologists responded to the survey. With these responses we were able to highlight areas of practice uniformity, including first-line treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and intravenous methylprednisone and initiation of disease-modifying therapy with rituximab alone. The survey also identifies existing gaps in knowledge, specifically, when to add disease-modifying therapy and how long to continue therapy. We propose that the areas of agreement can be used as a step toward establishing standard treatment guidelines and research protocols directed at evidence-based clinical trials.