AUTHOR=Lei Chunyan , Li Yongyu , Li Haijiang , Zhu Xiaoyan , Jiang Wen , Chang Xiaolong 

TITLE=Presence of anti-nuclear antibody associated with worse clinical outcomes of anti-NMDAR encephalitis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.975583

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.975583

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Purpose: Systemic autoantibodies are important for the diagnosis of autoimmune 
diseases, but their roles in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) 
encephalitis are unknown. The purpose of our study is to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with the prevalence of 
autoantibodies. 
Methods: Systemic autoantibodies were evaluated in 64 patients with anti-NMDAR 
encephalitis and 14 patients with autoimmune encephalitis with other forms. Then according to systemic autoantibodies, patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were 
divided into anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) positive group and ANA negative group. 
The clinical outcome was assessed by a modified Rankin score at 12 months after the 
disease onset.
Results: A total of 64 anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients were enrolled, of which 
28.13% (18/64) were positive for ANA. The titers of positive anti-NMDAR antibody 
in CSF (P=0.041) and serum (P=0.031) in the ANA positive group was significantly 
higher than ANA negative group. Patients with ANA positive than those with ANA 
negative showed lower rates of headache (P=0.047) and speech disorder (P=0.049). 
The presence of ANA was associated worse clinical outcome at 12-month (P=0.043).
Conclusion: ANA was prevalent in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and 
associated with worse prognosis and impaired neurological recovery.