Antineuronal antibodies and infectious pathogens in severe acute pediatric encephalitis

Jainn Jim Lin, Kuang Lin Lin*, Cheng Hsun Chiu, Shao Hsuan Hsia, Huei Shyong Wang, I. Jun Chou, Yun Tong Lin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pathogenesis of acute encephalitis is divided into either direct infection or by immune-mediated inflammation, but the cause is still unknown. This retrospective study aimed to screen antineuronal antibodies in children with severe acute encephalitis. Thirty-four children (22 boys and 12 girls) underwent assessments such as antineuronal antibodies survey for autoimmune encephalitis and polymerase chain reaction/viral culture and antibody assays for all commonly recognized causes of infectious encephalitis. Sixteen (47.1%) were positive for autoantibodies, including antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in 16 and voltage-gated potassium channel complex antibodies in 1. Sixteen patients (47.1%) had presumed infectious etiologies, including 6 with influenza, 6 with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 3 with enterovirus, and 1 with herpes simplex virus. In this study, influenza and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are the main presumed causes of severe acute encephalitis in children, although an immune-mediated mechanism may also play a role.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11-16
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Child Neurology
Volume29
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 2014

Keywords

  • antineuronal antibody
  • immune-mediated inflammation
  • severe acute encephalitis

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