Features of the clinical course of Autoimmune Encephalitis Associated with various antibodies.

Abstract

Despite the increasing incidence of autoimmune encephalitis and the incomplete recovery observed in patients post-affliction, the issue of timely diagnosis remains unresolved. The primary objective of this study is identification the distinctive clinical presentation features evaluation the management strategies, and assess the outcomes of the disease in patients with various forms of autoimmune encephalitis. The research aims to contribute in a better understanding of the disease progression and facilitate the selection of optimal therapeutic interventions. A retrospective observational study enrolled 68 patients aged 18 years and older with verified autoimmune encephalitis who underwent treatment in state hospitals in Sofia, Bulgaria, from the beginning of 2014 to the end of 2022. The number of patients with pathology linked to antibodies against glycine receptors (Gly-R) was half as much, with 32 and 17 patients, respectively. The primary manifestations of autoimmune encephalitis included cognitive impairments observed in 51 patients, seizures occurring in 44 patients, and mood disorders observed in 22 patients. While the findings of imaging studies were nonspecific, hospitalizations for patients with this pathology, especially those with antibodies to CASPR2 and DPPX, were prolonged (114 and 232 days, respectively). In the vast majority of cases, incomplete recovery with residual symptoms was noted. Among the diverse forms of autoimmune encephalitis, the most prevalent is NMDA-R. Cognitive impairments predominate in the autoimmune encephalitis clinical presentation. Prolonged hospitalization periods and incomplete recovery of patients are characteristic features of autoimmune encephalitis, despite combined therapy involving intravenous administration of methylprednisolone and immunoglobulins.