Pediatric Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Encephalitis: Experience of a Tertiary Care Teaching Center From North India
Chakrabarty, B.,
Tripathi, M.,
Gulati, S.,
Yoganathan, S.,
Pandit, A. K.,
Sinha, A.,
Rathi, B. S.
Journal of Child Neurology
Published online on October 04, 2013
Abstract
Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is characterized by acute- or subacute-onset encephalopathy with extrapyramidal, psychiatric, and epileptic manifestations. Diagnosis is confirmed by positive antibodies to NMDA receptor in cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Eleven pediatric cases presented over a 2-year period at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. The average age at presentation was 9 years (range: 2.5 to 18 years, median: 10 years) with a slight female predominance (1.2:1). The common modes of presentation were progressive extrapyramidal syndrome with global neuroregression in 45% (5 of 11), epileptiform encephalopathy in 27% (3 of 11), and an overlap between the 2 in 27% (3 of 11). Fifty-eight percent showed significant response to steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin. This entity should be considered in an acute- or subacute-onset encephalopathy if common infectious etiologies are ruled out and there are specific clinical pointers. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly improves the outcome.