Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025

High-throughput Flow Cytometry Cell-based Assay to Detect Antibodies to N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptor or Dopamine-2 Receptor in Human Serum
Published on: November 23, 2013
Sleep disorders in anti-NMDAR encephalitis
Helena Ariño1, Amaia Muñoz-Lopetegi1, Eugenia Martinez-Hernandez1
1From Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology (H.A., A.M.-L., E.M.-H., T.A., M.R.-J., D.E., F.G., G.S., J.C.-F., A.C., J.D., J.S.), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer; Departments of Neurology (A.M.-L., E.M.-H., D.E., N.M., J.D., J.S.) and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology (T.A., G.S., J.C.-F.), Hospital Clinic, and Pediatric Neuroimmunology Unit (T.A.), Sant Joan de Déu Children's Hospital, University of Barcelona, Spain; Department of Neurology (J.D.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (J.D.), Barcelona, Spain.
Sleep disorders are common in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARe), presenting as insomnia initially and hypersomnia during recovery. These sleep issues correlate with cognitive and behavioral changes, including confusional arousals.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARe) is an autoimmune disorder with diverse neurological and psychiatric manifestations.
- Sleep disturbances are frequently reported but not systematically characterized in anti-NMDARe patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively describe the spectrum and temporal patterns of sleep disorders in patients with anti-NMDARe.
- To investigate the association between sleep disturbances and clinical, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in anti-NMDARe.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study involving 18 anti-NMDARe patients and 21 healthy controls.
- Utilized video-polysomnography (V-PSG), clinical assessments, and neuropsychological evaluations.
- Assessed sleep patterns during acute and recovery phases, alongside daytime sleepiness and cognitive/psychological status.
Main Results:
- During the acute phase, 89% of patients reported insomnia, shifting to hypersomnia in 78% during recovery.
- Patients exhibited increased daytime sleepiness and more frequent confusional arousals during NREM sleep compared to controls.
- Sleep dysfunction was associated with cognitive deficits (72%), psychological disability (67%), hyperphagia (78%), and hypersexuality (33%).
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbances are a prevalent and temporally dynamic feature of anti-NMDARe.
- These sleep issues are linked to significant cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric sequelae.
- Characterizing sleep disorders is crucial for understanding the comprehensive impact of anti-NMDARe and guiding management.
More Related Videos
07:20A Simple Cell-based Immunofluorescence Assay to Detect Autoantibody Against the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate NMDA Receptor in Blood
Published on: January 9, 2018
08:20Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures to Detect and Study New Pathogenic Antibodies Involved in Autoimmune Encephalitis
Published on: June 2, 2022
Related Concept Videos
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...
Narcolepsy
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Restless Leg Syndrome and Night Terrors
The exact cause of RLS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate muscle movement. Imbalances in dopamine levels...
CNS Depressants: Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines