Developing Advanced Neuroimaging for Clinical Evaluation of Autoimmune Encephalitis

Launched by KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · Mar 14, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a condition called autoimmune encephalitis, specifically a type known as NMDAR-antibody encephalitis, which affects the brain and can cause problems with memory, thinking, and mental health, especially in children and young adults. Researchers want to use advanced MRI technology to look closely at the brains of young people who are recovering from this condition. They aim to find out if the MRI results can show differences between those affected by the condition and healthy individuals, and whether these results can help predict how well patients will do one year later in terms of their memory, thinking skills, and daily life activities.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be between 8 and 24 years old and have had symptoms of NMDAR-antibody encephalitis or other types of autoimmune encephalitis within the past year. Healthy young individuals in the same age range can also participate as a comparison group. It's important for potential participants to know that they cannot have any metal implants or devices that would prevent them from having an MRI. Those who join can expect to undergo MRI scans and possibly some tests to assess their cognitive and mental health over the course of the study. This research could provide valuable information to help improve care for young people affected by autoimmune encephalitis.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• NMDAR-antibody encephalitis group:
• • 1. Age 8-24 years at study enrollment.
• • 2. Disease onset in the last 12 months before study enrollment.
• • 3. Meets consensus diagnostic criteria (Graus et al., 2016) for either probable anti-NMDAR encephalitis OR definite anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
• Antibody-negative autoimmune encephalitis group:
• • 1. Age 8-24 years at study enrollment.
• • 2. Disease onset in the last 12 months before study enrollment.
• • 3. Meets consensus diagnostic criteria (Graus et al., 2016) for either autoantibody-negative but probable autoimmune encephalitis OR definite autoimmune limbic encephalitis.
• Healthy control group:
• • 1. Age 8-24 years at study enrollment.
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• All participants:
• • 1. Any clear contra-indication for an MRI scan. In particular this would be due to the presence of any implanted devices or metal from previous surgery or accident.
• Healthy control group:
• • 1. A known neurological or neurodevelopmental disorder.
• NMDAR-antibody encephalitis and antibody-negative autoimmune encephalitis groups:
• • 1. Alternative more likely cause of neurological symptoms than autoimmune encephalitis, i.e. reasonable exclusion of other diagnoses as per consensus criteria (Graus et al., 2016).
• • 2. Severe movement disorder/uncontrolled epilepsy/dysautonomia.
• • 3. Previous infective encephalitis with major destructive brain lesions.