Autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system in childhood – diagnosis (MRI CNS), clinical course, and treatment

Czech version

Authors: E. Štěpánová ^1,2,3; I. Doležalová ^4,5; J. Sagan ^6,7; D. Krahulík ⁸; P. Hanzlíková ^9,10,11
Authors‘ workplace: Oddělení dětské neurologie FN Ostrava, Ostrava ¹; Katedra klinických neurověd OU Ostrava, Ostrava ²; FN a LF UP Olomouc, Olomouc ³; 1. Neurologická klinika Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny, Brno ⁴; Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Bohunice ⁵; Klinika infekčního lékařství, FN Ostrava, Ostrava ⁶; Katedra interních oborů, Lékařská fakulta, Ostravská univerzita, Ostrava ⁷; Neurochirurgická klinika FN a LF UP Olomouc, Olomouc ⁸; Ústav radiodiagnostický FN Ostrava, Ostrava ⁹; Ústav zobrazovacích metod OU Ostrava, Ostrava ¹⁰; Radiologická klinika FN a LF UP Olomouc, Olomouc ¹¹
Published in: Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 74, 2025, č. 1, s. 65-75
Category:
doi: https://doi.org/10.61568/emi/11-6445/20250128/139688

Overview

Autoimmune encephalitis is a group of autoimmune-related diseases of the central nervous system with the predominant involvement of the cerebral cortex. It is a heterogeneous group of conditions manifested by newly emerging neurological and psychiatric deficits in previously healthy children. These disorders differ in severity, clinical course, and aetiology. Unlike the adult population, non-paraneoplastic encephalitis is prevalent in children. Antineuronal antibodies are the most critical prognostic and therapeutic indicators. Antibodies are directed either against surface antigens or intracellular antigens. Autoimmune diseases respond favourably to immunotherapy. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and timely treatment are essential and can lead to faster recovery and lower rates of relapses and cognitive deficits. This article focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic experience with the most common types of autoimmune encephalitis and antibody-mediated demyelinating syndromes in childhood at the University Hospital Ostrava.

Keywords:

magnetic resonance imaging – autoimmune encephalitis – antineuronal antibodies

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Do redakce došlo dne 25. 7. 2024.

Adresa pro korespondenci:
MUDr. Eva Štěpánová
Oddělení dětské neurologie FN Ostrava
7. listopadu 1790/5
708 00 Ostrava – Poruba
e-mail: S.Evula@seznam.cz

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Article was published in

Epidemiology, Microbiology, Immunology

2025 Issue 1

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