Antibody-Mediated Encephalitis in Children: Focus on Diagnostic Clues and Acute Symptom Management

Consultation-Liaison Case Conference: Systemic Challenges in Management of Aggression in a Pediatric Patient With Seronegative Autoimmune Encephalitis

We present the case of a 9-year-old girl who presented to a tertiary-care academic children's hospital with acute onset of severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms, perseveration, grimacing, and personality changes with resultant agitation. Extensive multidisciplinary workup led to a diagnosis of seronegative autoimmune encephalitis. The clinical course included multiple general pediatric and inpatient psychiatric unit admissions that were complicated by severe affective dysregulation with physical aggression towards staff and family. Top experts in the consultation-liaison field provide guidance for this commonly encountered clinical case based on their experience and a review of available literature. Key teaching points include assessment and management of seronegative autoimmune encephalitis and catatonia. We discuss the system-level challenges of management of aggression in health care settings and ways to improve care for patients presenting with behavioral manifestations (aggression) of physical illness.

A narrative review of pharmacologic approaches to symptom management of pediatric patients diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis (ANMDARE) is one of the most common autoimmune encephalitis in the pediatric population. Patients with ANMDARE initially present with a prodrome of neuropsychiatric symptoms followed by progressively worsening seizures, agitation, and movement disorders. Complications can include problems such as aggression, insomnia, catatonia, and autonomic instability. Due to the complexity of this disease process, symptom management can be complex and may lead to significant polypharmacy. The goal of this review is to educate clinicians about the challenges of managing this disorder and providing guidance in symptom management.