Neural autoantibodies in delirium

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Delirium is a critical condition in hospitalized and ICU patients requiring prompt intervention.
• The link between delirium and neural autoantibodies is often overlooked in research.
• Understanding autoimmune causes is crucial for effective delirium management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the occurrence and types of neural autoantibodies in delirium patients.
• To identify biological markers of autoimmunity associated with delirium.
• To investigate the pathophysiological pathways of autoimmune delirium.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of PubMed literature was conducted.
• Articles focusing on delirium and neural autoantibodies were selected.
• Case reports and series were screened for autoantibody presence.

Main Results:

• Several cell-surface and intracellular neural autoantibodies were associated with delirium.
• 32% of screened delirium patients (20/63) presented with neural autoantibodies.
• Hyperactive delirium showed a significant association with neural autoantibodies.

Conclusions:

• Neural autoantibodies are clinically relevant in delirium diagnosis, therapy, and pathogenesis.
• Distinguishing autoimmune delirium from other psychiatric conditions is essential.
• Larger studies are recommended to confirm the prevalence and significance of neural autoantibodies in delirium.