Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Autoimmune Encephalitis: Report of Two Pediatric Cases

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Azita Tavasoli 1
Mitra Hakim Shooshtari 2
Behnaz Parvini 3

1 Department of Pediatric Neurology, Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Pediatric Psychiatry, Ali Asghar Children's Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Pediatrician, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22062/jkmu.2021.91722
Abstract
Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) with neural cell autoantibodies is a treatable category of non-viral encephalitis in children and adolescents which presents with neuropsychiatric manifestations. Anti-N-methyl- D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, the most common identified type of AIE, is more frequent than individual viral encephalitis in young patients. Early diagnosis and treatment of the disease have been associated with improvement in the majority of patients.
Case Report: we report two pediatric cases with acute neuropsychiatric presentations in whom the diagnosis of AIE was proved based on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antineuronal antibodies in one and on clinical and paraclinical grounds in another seronegative patient. Immunotherapy in both patients resulted in improvement. No underlying tumor was found in patients.
Pediatricians should be aware of manifestations, investigations, and treatment of AIE and consider it as the differential diagnosis of encephalitis.

Keywords

Autoimmune encephalitis
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis
Pediatrics
Encephalitis
Immune-mediated encephalitis
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Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 28, Issue 4
July and August 2021
Pages 404-408

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