Clinical Features, Antibody Profiles, and Prognostic Factors in Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Single-Center Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) is a complex inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorder with diverse clinical and serological presentations.
• Identifying prognostic factors is crucial for effective management of AIE patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively identify poor prognostic factors in autoimmune encephalitis (AIE).
• To evaluate the association between antibody profiles, clinical features, malignancy, and treatment outcomes in AIE.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 44 patients diagnosed with AIE between 2014 and 2024.
• Data collected included demographic, clinical, radiological, and serological findings.
• Patients were categorized by antibody localization and treatment response; poor prognosis defined as lack of improvement or death.

Main Results:

• Anti-SOX1 positivity was significantly associated with malignancy (OR=27.5, p=0.007) and mortality (OR=13.2, p=0.009).
• Limbic encephalitis (LE) presentation correlated with better treatment response (OR=14.0, p=0.019).
• Overall mortality was 20.1%, highest in anti-SOX1 positive patients (66.7%).

Conclusions:

• Anti-SOX1 antibody positivity is a critical indicator of poor prognosis in AIE, linked to increased malignancy and mortality risk.
• Limbic encephalitis presentation is associated with favorable treatment outcomes.
• Integrated assessment of antibody profile, clinical presentation, and malignancy screening is vital for AIE risk stratification and management.