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1
Definitions
6
Pathophys.
10
Phenotypes
13
Pathograph
7
Treatments
2
Subtypes
3
Trials
31
References
2
Deep Research
📘

Definitions

1
Probable anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis clinical criteria
Probable anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can be recognized before antibody confirmation when a subacute encephalitis syndrome develops multiple characteristic symptom groups, has supportive EEG or CSF abnormalities, and alternative disorders are reasonably excluded.
CASE_DEFINITION
Graus-style clinical syndrome
Core clinical characteristics
  • Psychosis Psychiatric or behavioral syndrome.
  • Language impairment Speech or language dysfunction, including reduced speech.
  • Seizure
  • Dyskinesia Movement disorder including orofacial or choreoathetoid movements.
  • Coma Severe decreased level of consciousness.
  • Abnormality of the autonomic nervous system
  • Central hypoventilation
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:28972277 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The criteria are satisfied if patients develop four out of six symptom groups within 3 months, together with at least one abnormal investigation (electroencephalography/cerebrospinal fluid) and reasonable exclusion of other disorders."
This pediatric validation study summarizes the practical clinical criteria used for early recognition before definitive antibody results.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:26906964 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Because autoantibody test results and response to therapy are not available at disease onset, we based the initial diagnostic approach on neurological assessment and conventional tests that are accessible to most clinicians."
The consensus diagnostic framework supports syndrome-based assessment so treatment is not delayed while antibody results are pending.

Subtypes

2
Teratoma-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis triggered by an ovarian teratoma or other tumor expressing nervous-system antigens, most often in young adult women.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
The Lancet Neurology update identifies ovarian teratoma as a recognized trigger for NMDAR autoimmunity.
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Tumors were found in 43 (19.5%) patients: 42 females with ovarian teratomas and 1 male with lung cancer."
This 220-patient prospective Chinese cohort quantifies the tumor-associated subgroup and shows ovarian teratoma dominated tumor findings in females.
Post-herpes simplex encephalitis anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis emerging after herpes simplex encephalitis, typically within weeks, with prominent behavioral change, movement disorder, and dysautonomia.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
The review identifies herpes simplex encephalitis as a known upstream trigger for NMDAR autoimmunity.
PMID:39147951 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The median time between HSE and NMDARE onset was 30 days (21-46)."
The HSE-NMDARE cohort directly characterizes the post-herpetic interval between herpes encephalitis and anti-NMDAR encephalitis onset.

Pathophysiology

6
Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity
Tumor antigen exposure, particularly from ovarian teratoma, or post-infectious inflammation after herpes simplex encephalitis can trigger B-cell autoimmunity against extracellular NMDA receptor epitopes.
B cell link
B cell mediated immunity link ↑ INCREASED
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
The review supports ovarian teratoma and herpes simplex encephalitis as upstream triggers of anti-NMDAR autoimmunity.
PMID:18851928 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"All teratomas contained nervous tissue; 25 were examined for expression of NMDA receptors, and all were positive (data not shown)."
The original case series supports a mechanistic link between teratoma neural tissue, NMDA receptor expression, and loss of immune tolerance.
Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
Antibody production is concentrated in the CNS compartment: CSF antibody levels can exceed serum levels even when the blood-brain barrier is preserved, supporting intrathecal synthesis by antibody-secreting cells.
B cell link plasma cell link
immunoglobulin production link ↑ INCREASED
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:18851928 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Analysis of normalized concentrations of IgG showed that all 53 patients had higher concentrations of antibodies in CSF than in sera, indicating intrathecal synthesis of antibodies (figure 3)."
Paired CSF/serum analysis supports intrathecal antibody synthesis as part of the pathogenic cascade.
PMID:38145121 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"It is characterized by the existence of antibodies against NMDAR, mainly against the GluN1 subunit, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)."
This review identifies CSF anti-GluN1/NMDAR antibodies as the defining disease marker.
Synaptic NMDAR Cluster Loss
Patient IgG binds neuronal surface NMDA receptors and reduces the cell-surface and postsynaptic receptor cluster pool, producing a selective and potentially reversible receptor loss rather than fixed neuronal death.
neuron link
receptor internalization link ↑ INCREASED
brain link hippocampal formation link
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:18851928 SUPPORT In Vitro
"adding patients’ IgG to rat hippocampal neuronal cultures produced a concentration-dependent decrease of the cell-surface fraction of NMDA receptors (figure 5)."
Patient IgG directly reduced cell-surface NMDA receptor availability in cultured hippocampal neurons.
PMID:18851928 SUPPORT In Vitro
"Together, these findings show that patients’ antibodies produce a selective and reversible decrease of NMDA-receptor clusters in postsynaptic dendrites."
The reversibility of postsynaptic NMDAR cluster loss explains why severe disease can improve after antibody-directed treatment.
Glutamatergic Synaptic Hypofunction
Loss of synaptic NMDA receptors disrupts glutamatergic signaling and synaptic plasticity, providing a mechanistic bridge to psychiatric, cognitive, seizure, movement, autonomic, and ventilatory manifestations.
glutamate receptor signaling pathway link ↓ DECREASED regulation of synaptic plasticity link ⚠ ABNORMAL
hippocampal formation link
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:38145121 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Recent research suggests that anti-NMDAR antibodies may reduce NMDAR levels in this disorder, compromising synaptic activity in the hippocampus."
The review links anti-NMDAR antibodies to reduced receptor levels and hippocampal synaptic dysfunction.
PMID:18851928 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"This feature is compatible with disruption of the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, thought to underlie learning and memory, in which the NMDA receptors play a key part."
The case series connects persistent amnesia with NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity disruption.
Blood-Brain Barrier and Immune Trafficking
Blood-brain barrier function modulates access of antibodies and immune cells between peripheral and CNS compartments, and inflammatory cytokine findings support barrier involvement in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
maintenance of blood-brain barrier link ⚠ ABNORMAL
blood brain barrier link
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:38145121 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which separates the brain from the peripheral circulatory system, is crucial for antibodies and immune cells to enter or exit the CNS."
The review supports BBB involvement as the anatomical interface governing antibody and immune-cell traffic.
PMID:38145121 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The findings of cytokines in this disorder support the involvement of the BBB."
Cytokine findings are cited as evidence that BBB dysfunction participates in anti-NMDAR encephalitis biology.
Neuropsychiatric and Seizure Syndrome
The downstream clinical syndrome reflects reversible NMDAR hypofunction and encephalitic network dysfunction, with psychiatric symptoms and seizures most often reported in large cohorts and additional movement, consciousness, autonomic, and ventilatory involvement in severe disease.
brain link
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The identification of anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis about 12 years ago made it possible to recognise that some patients with rapidly progressive psychiatric symptoms or cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal movements, or coma of unknown cause, had an autoimmune disease."
The review summarizes the characteristic neurologic and psychiatric syndrome produced by anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Pathograph

Use the checkboxes to hide or show graph categories. Hover nodes for evidence and cross-linked metadata.
Pathograph: causal mechanism network for Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Interactive directed graph showing how pathophysiology mechanisms, phenotypes, genetic factors and variants, experimental models, environmental triggers, and treatments relate through causal and linked edges.

Phenotypes

10
Nervous System 7
Psychosis VERY_FREQUENT Psychosis (HP:0000709)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The most common clinical manifestations of the anti-NMDAR encephalitis were psychosis (182, 82.7%) and seizures (178, 80.9%)."
Psychosis occurred in 82.7% of the 220-patient cohort, placing it in the VERY_FREQUENT frequency band.
Seizure VERY_FREQUENT Seizure (HP:0001250)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The most common clinical manifestations of the anti-NMDAR encephalitis were psychosis (182, 82.7%) and seizures (178, 80.9%)."
Seizures occurred in 80.9% of the 220-patient cohort, placing them in the VERY_FREQUENT frequency band.
Dyskinesia COMMON Dyskinesia (HP:0100660)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Movement disorder presented more often in patients younger than 18 years than adult patients (38/69, 55.1% vs 56/151, 37.1%, p = 0.01)."
The cohort reports movement disorder in 94/220 patients overall, with higher frequency in children; dyskinesia is used as the HPO-grounded movement-disorder phenotype.
Memory Impairment COMMON Memory impairment (HP:0002354)
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:39566012 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Beyond 36 months (n = 44), 34% of patients had a persistent impairment (z-score <-1.5 SD) and 65% scored below-average (<-1 SD) in 1 or more cognitive domains, despite a "favorable" outcome measured by mRS (≤2) in the majority (91%)."
Long-term cognitive impairment persisted in a substantial subset despite favorable mRS outcomes; memory was among the most affected domains.
PMID:18851928 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"A characteristic feature of patients who recover from anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis is a persisting amnesia of the entire process (data not shown)."
The early case series highlights persistent amnesia as a characteristic recovery-phase cognitive feature.
Coma Coma (HP:0001259)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"some patients with rapidly progressive psychiatric symptoms or cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal movements, or coma of unknown cause, had an autoimmune disease."
Coma is listed among the severe neurologic presentations of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Autonomic Dysfunction COMMON Abnormality of the autonomic nervous system (HP:0002270)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:33589542 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"We reported that 48.4% of patients displayed autonomic symptoms, and other studies on anti-NMDAR encephalitis also reported elevated incidences of autonomic dysfunction (Titulaer: 37%–48%; Dalmau: 69%)."
The Western China cohort reports autonomic symptoms in nearly half of patients and places the phenotype in the COMMON frequency band.
EEG Abnormality COMMON EEG abnormality (HP:0002353)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Abnormal EEG findings were seen in 113 (51.4%) patients: 102 (46.4%) had slow activity and 14 (6.4%) epileptic discharges."
EEG abnormalities occurred in 51.4% of the 220-patient cohort.
Respiratory 1
Central Hypoventilation Central hypoventilation (HP:0007110)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:30578370 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"movement disorder (p = 0.001), central hypoventilation (p < 0.001), elevated CSF white blood cell count (p < 0.001), elevated CSF protein level (p = 0.027), and abnormal MRI (p = 0.002) were associated with 1-year functional status in univariate analysis."
Central hypoventilation is identified as a clinically important feature associated with functional outcome.
Other 2
Speech and Language Dysfunction Language impairment (HP:0002463)
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"acute onset of 1 or more of the 8 major groups of manifestations: psychosis, memory deficit, speech disturbance, seizures, movement disorder, loss of consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, and central hypoventilation"
Speech disturbance is included among the major clinical manifestation groups used for anti-NMDAR encephalitis case inclusion in this cohort.
PMID:39566012 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Most affected were memory (mean -0.67 ± 0.89 SD, p = 0.25) and language (-0.75 ± 1.06 SD, p = 0.23)."
Long-term follow-up identifies language as one of the most affected cognitive domains after anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
CSF Pleocytosis VERY_FREQUENT CSF pleocytosis (HP:0012229)
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Of note, 81.3% of the patients had pleocytosis, the median white blood cell count was 14.0 (IQR 7.0–22.5) × 106/L, and 90.9% were of mononuclear cells (i.e., lymphocyte and monocytes)."
CSF pleocytosis occurred in 81.3% of the prospective cohort, placing it in the VERY_FREQUENT frequency band.
💊

Treatments

7
First-Line Immunotherapy
Action: immunotherapy Ontology label: immunotherapy procedure MAXO:0001002
Initial treatment uses corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, or combinations of these therapies, often alongside tumor removal when a tumor is identified.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production — First-line immunotherapy suppresses the inflammatory antibody-mediated process and can reduce circulating or intrathecal pathogenic antibody effects.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Most patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis respond to immunotherapy."
Clinical response to immunotherapy supports inhibition of the antibody-mediated immune process.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Treatment included first-line immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis), second-line immunotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide), and tumour removal."
The large observational cohort defines the core first-line and second-line treatment categories used in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"472 (94%) underwent first-line immunotherapy or tumour removal, resulting in improvement within 4 weeks in 251 (53%)."
Most assessable patients received first-line treatment or tumor removal, with early improvement in just over half.
High-Dose Corticosteroid Therapy
Action: systemic corticosteroid therapy Ontology label: Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy NCIT:C122080
Corticosteroids are commonly used in first-line acute immunotherapy, including pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone in severe disease.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity — Corticosteroids suppress acute CNS and systemic inflammation.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"A total of 208 (94.5%) patients received steroids, of whom 103 (46.8%) received pulsed IV methylprednisolone."
The cohort documents corticosteroid use as a major acute immunosuppressive treatment.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"A total of 208 (94.5%) patients received steroids, of whom 103 (46.8%) received pulsed IV methylprednisolone."
This prospective cohort documents frequent use of corticosteroids and pulsed IV methylprednisolone in real-world acute treatment.
Plasma Exchange
Action: plasmapheresis Ontology label: Plasmapheresis NCIT:C15304
Plasma exchange is used as an acute first-line or escalation strategy to remove pathogenic antibodies.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production — Plasma exchange lowers pathogenic antibody burden, especially the circulating component.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Treatment included first-line immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis), second-line immunotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide), and tumour removal."
Plasmapheresis is explicitly included among first-line antibody-directed immunotherapies.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Treatment included first-line immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis), second-line immunotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide), and tumour removal."
The cohort explicitly includes plasmapheresis among first-line immunotherapies.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin
Action: intravenous immunoglobulin therapy Ontology label: Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy NCIT:C121331
Intravenous immunoglobulin is a first-line immunotherapy used alone or with corticosteroids and/or plasma exchange.
Mechanism Target:
MODULATES Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity — IVIG modulates immune effector pathways and pathogenic autoantibody activity.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"IVIG was administered to 199 (90.5%) patients, and 7 (3.2%) patients underwent PE."
High use of IVIG in this cohort supports IVIG as a core immune-modulating acute therapy.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"IVIG was administered to 199 (90.5%) patients, and 7 (3.2%) patients underwent PE."
IVIG was used in most patients in this prospective Chinese cohort.
Rituximab or Cyclophosphamide Second-Line Immunotherapy
Action: Pharmacotherapy NCIT:C15986
Agent: rituximab cyclophosphamide
Patients who fail first-line therapy may receive rituximab and/or cyclophosphamide as second-line immunotherapy.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production — B-cell depletion or cytotoxic immunosuppression reduces autoreactive lymphocyte populations driving antibody production.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Of 221 patients who did not improve with first-line treatment, 125 (57%) received second-line immunotherapy that resulted in a better outcome (mRS 0-2) than those who did not"
Better outcomes after second-line rituximab/cyclophosphamide support targeting persistent immune antibody production.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:23290630 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Of 221 patients who did not improve with first-line treatment, 125 (57%) received second-line immunotherapy that resulted in a better outcome (mRS 0-2) than those who did not"
The observational cohort supports second-line immunotherapy for patients not improving after first-line therapy.
Long-Term Mycophenolate or Azathioprine Immunotherapy
Action: Pharmacotherapy NCIT:C15986
Agent: mycophenolate mofetil azathioprine
Mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine are used as longer-term immunosuppressive treatment in selected severe, refractory, or relapsing anti-NMDAR encephalitis cases.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production — Long-term steroid-sparing immunosuppression is used to suppress ongoing autoimmune activity and reduce relapse-management burden.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Long-term immunotherapy was administered mainly in patients who were enrolled later, as an add-on therapy for severe or refractory patients in the acute phase, or as maintenance therapy to prevent and manage relapses."
The cohort describes long-term immunotherapy as an add-on or maintenance strategy for severe, refractory, or relapsing disease.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Long-term immunotherapy was administered mainly in patients who were enrolled later, as an add-on therapy for severe or refractory patients in the acute phase, or as maintenance therapy to prevent and manage relapses."
This prospective cohort explicitly identifies the treatment phase and clinical role of long-term immunotherapy.
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"In general, MMF was administered in 109 (49.5%) patients, 55 of whom at onset and 54 after relapse, and AZA was administered in 8 (3.6%) patients."
Mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine use is quantified in the cohort, supporting these agents as long-term immunotherapy options.
Tumor Removal
Action: surgical procedure MAXO:0000004
Surgical removal of an associated ovarian teratoma or other tumor is part of standard management when a tumor is identified.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity — Removing a teratoma eliminates a potential antigen source sustaining NMDAR autoimmunity.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"About 80% of patients improve with immunotherapy and, if needed, tumour removal, but the recovery is slow."
Tumor removal is linked with clinical improvement when tumor-associated disease is present.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"About 80% of patients improve with immunotherapy and, if needed, tumour removal, but the recovery is slow."
The review identifies tumor removal as part of effective management when tumor-associated disease is present.
🌍

Environmental Factors

3
Ovarian teratoma
Ovarian teratoma is a recognized tumor trigger and should prompt tumor screening and removal when identified.
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:31326280 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
The review identifies ovarian teratoma as a common tumor trigger.
PMID:38728608 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Ovarian teratomas were found in 58.3% of Black female individuals and 10%-28.6% in other groups."
A US incidence cohort shows ovarian teratoma frequency varies across female patient groups.
Herpes simplex encephalitis
Herpes simplex encephalitis can precede anti-NMDAR encephalitis and defines a post-infectious trigger subgroup with poorer long-term prognosis in recent cohort data.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:39147951 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Herein, patients with HSE-NMDARE have a poorer long-term prognosis than patients with regular NMDARE."
This cohort supports post-HSE anti-NMDAR encephalitis as a clinically distinct and prognostically important subgroup.
Geographic and climatic factors
Latitude, temperature, and ultraviolet exposure have been associated with reported incidence variation, suggesting environmental modulation of risk.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:37371620 PARTIAL Human Clinical
"This study provides the first evidence that geographic and climatic factors including latitude, mean annual temperature, and ultraviolet exposure, might modify disease risk."
Ecologic evidence suggests environmental risk modification, but causality and individual-level mechanisms remain uncertain.
🔬

Biochemical Markers

3
CSF Anti-NMDAR IgG (Positive)
Context: Cerebrospinal fluid
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:38145121 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"It is characterized by the existence of antibodies against NMDAR, mainly against the GluN1 subunit, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)."
CSF anti-GluN1/NMDAR antibodies are the defining diagnostic biomarker.
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"All patients (100%) were positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies in CSF, and 157 (71.4%) were positive in serum."
Paired testing in the 220-patient cohort supports high diagnostic value of CSF antibody detection relative to serum.
CSF White Blood Cell Count (Elevated)
Context: Cerebrospinal fluid
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:30578370 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"Intensive care unit admission, treatment delay >4 weeks, lack of clinical improvement within 4 weeks, abnormal MRI, and CSF white blood cell count >20 cells/μL were independent predictors for outcome in multivariate regression modeling."
Elevated CSF white blood cell count is both a diagnostic inflammatory marker and one component of the NEOS prognostic score.
Serum Anti-NMDAR IgG (Positive in subset)
Context: Serum
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:31619447 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"All patients (100%) were positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies in CSF, and 157 (71.4%) were positive in serum."
Serum antibody positivity is common but less consistently detected than CSF positivity in paired testing.
🔬

Clinical Trials

3
NCT03274375 PHASE_II RECRUITING
Prospective study of immunoadsorption therapy for severe pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Target Phenotypes: Seizure Dyskinesia
Show evidence (1 reference)
clinicaltrials:NCT03274375 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of immunoadsorption therapy (IA) on improving the neurological status of severe pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients."
ClinicalTrials.gov describes the trial as testing immunoadsorption in severe pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
NCT06183788 RECRUITING
AMENDS study of symptoms, biomarkers, mechanisms, remote follow-up tools, and cognitive rehabilitation in the prolonged recovery stage.
Target Phenotypes: Memory impairment
Show evidence (1 reference)
clinicaltrials:NCT06183788 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"In Aim 1, the post-acute stage will be clinically characterized, tools to remotely follow cognitive, behavioral and psychiatric deficits will be provided, and the impact of cognitive rehabilitation will be assessed."
The trial targets long-term cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric deficits after the acute stage.
NCT06023160 RECRUITING
International cohort study developing the NEOSII score to predict long-term outcome and response to first-line immunotherapy at diagnosis.
Show evidence (1 reference)
clinicaltrials:NCT06023160 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The goal of this international cohort study is to develop a prediction model for long-term outcome and response to first-line immunotherapy of anti-NMDAR Encephalitis, already at the moment of diagnosis."
The study extends prognostic modeling to diagnosis-time prediction of long-term outcome and treatment response.
{ }

Source YAML

click to show
name: Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
creation_date: "2026-05-16T06:56:16Z"
updated_date: "2026-05-16T08:02:25Z"
category: Autoimmune
parents:
- Autoimmune Encephalitis
- Neurological Disease
- Autoimmune Disease
synonyms:
- Anti-NMDAR encephalitis
- Anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis
- NMDAR encephalitis
- NMDARE
disease_term:
  preferred_term: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
  term:
    id: MONDO:0021081
    label: anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
description: >-
  Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an antibody-mediated autoimmune
  encephalitis caused by IgG autoantibodies against the GluN1/NR1 subunit of
  the NMDA receptor. It usually presents subacutely with psychiatric or
  cognitive and speech-language symptoms, seizures, movement disorder,
  decreased consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, and central hypoventilation.
  Ovarian teratoma and herpes simplex encephalitis are recognized triggers, CSF
  antibody testing is a core diagnostic marker, and early immunotherapy plus
  tumor removal when indicated improves outcome.
has_subtypes:
- name: Teratoma-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
  description: >-
    Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis triggered by an ovarian teratoma or other
    tumor expressing nervous-system antigens, most often in young adult women.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
    explanation: >
      The Lancet Neurology update identifies ovarian teratoma as a recognized
      trigger for NMDAR autoimmunity.
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Tumors were found in 43 (19.5%) patients: 42 females with ovarian teratomas and 1 male with lung cancer."
    explanation: >
      This 220-patient prospective Chinese cohort quantifies the tumor-associated
      subgroup and shows ovarian teratoma dominated tumor findings in females.
- name: Post-herpes simplex encephalitis anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
  description: >-
    Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis emerging after herpes simplex encephalitis,
    typically within weeks, with prominent behavioral change, movement disorder,
    and dysautonomia.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
    explanation: >
      The review identifies herpes simplex encephalitis as a known upstream
      trigger for NMDAR autoimmunity.
  - reference: PMID:39147951
    reference_title: "Specific clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis following herpes encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The median time between HSE and NMDARE onset was 30 days (21-46)."
    explanation: >
      The HSE-NMDARE cohort directly characterizes the post-herpetic interval
      between herpes encephalitis and anti-NMDAR encephalitis onset.
definitions:
- name: Probable anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis clinical criteria
  definition_type: CASE_DEFINITION
  description: >-
    Probable anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can be recognized before antibody
    confirmation when a subacute encephalitis syndrome develops multiple
    characteristic symptom groups, has supportive EEG or CSF abnormalities, and
    alternative disorders are reasonably excluded.
  criteria_sets:
  - name: Graus-style clinical syndrome
    core_clinical_characteristics:
    - preferred_term: Psychosis
      term:
        id: HP:0000709
        label: Psychosis
      description: Psychiatric or behavioral syndrome.
    - preferred_term: Language impairment
      term:
        id: HP:0002463
        label: Language impairment
      description: Speech or language dysfunction, including reduced speech.
    - preferred_term: Seizure
      term:
        id: HP:0001250
        label: Seizure
    - preferred_term: Dyskinesia
      term:
        id: HP:0100660
        label: Dyskinesia
      description: Movement disorder including orofacial or choreoathetoid movements.
    - preferred_term: Coma
      term:
        id: HP:0001259
        label: Coma
      description: Severe decreased level of consciousness.
    - preferred_term: Abnormality of the autonomic nervous system
      term:
        id: HP:0002270
        label: Abnormality of the autonomic nervous system
    - preferred_term: Central hypoventilation
      term:
        id: HP:0007110
        label: Central hypoventilation
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:28972277
      reference_title: "High sensitivity and specificity in proposed clinical diagnostic criteria for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "The criteria are satisfied if patients develop four out of six symptom groups within 3 months, together with at least one abnormal investigation (electroencephalography/cerebrospinal fluid) and reasonable exclusion of other disorders."
      explanation: >
        This pediatric validation study summarizes the practical clinical
        criteria used for early recognition before definitive antibody results.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:26906964
    reference_title: "A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Because autoantibody test results and response to therapy are not available at disease onset, we based the initial diagnostic approach on neurological assessment and conventional tests that are accessible to most clinicians."
    explanation: >
      The consensus diagnostic framework supports syndrome-based assessment so
      treatment is not delayed while antibody results are pending.
epidemiology:
- name: United States race and ethnicity incidence gradients
  description: >-
    In Kaiser Permanente Southern California from 2011 through 2022, age- and
    sex-standardized incidence varied substantially by race and ethnicity, with
    higher incidence estimates among Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander
    individuals than among White individuals.
  unit: cases per 1 million person-years
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:38728608
    reference_title: "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The age-standardized and sex-standardized incidence of anti-NMDAR encephalitis per 1 million person-years was significantly higher in Black (2.94, 95% CI 1.27-4.61), Hispanic (2.17, 95% CI 1.51-2.83), and Asian/Pacific Island persons (2.02, 95% CI 0.77-3.28) compared with White persons (0.40, 95% CI 0.08-0.72)."
    explanation: >
      The population-based health-system cohort provides standardized incidence
      estimates stratified by race and ethnicity.
- name: Geographic and climatic incidence variation
  description: >-
    A systematic review and meta-analysis found higher reported incidence in
    Oceania and South America than in Europe and North America, with latitude
    and temperature associations suggesting environmental or geographic risk
    modifiers.
  unit: cases per 100000 person-years
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:37371620
    reference_title: "Spatial and Ecological Factors Modulate the Incidence of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis-A Systematic Review."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The reported incidence of anti-NMDAR encephalitis varied considerably among studies and countries, being higher in Oceania and South America (0.2 and 0.16 per 100,000 persons-year, respectively) compared to Europe and North America (0.06 per 100,000 persons-year) (p < 0.01)."
    explanation: >
      This meta-analysis quantifies regional differences in reported incidence.
pathophysiology:
- name: Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity
  description: >-
    Tumor antigen exposure, particularly from ovarian teratoma, or
    post-infectious inflammation after herpes simplex encephalitis can trigger
    B-cell autoimmunity against extracellular NMDA receptor epitopes.
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: B cell
    term:
      id: CL:0000236
      label: B cell
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: B cell mediated immunity
    modifier: INCREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0019724
      label: B cell mediated immunity
  downstream:
  - target: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
    description: >
      Triggered autoreactive B-cell responses feed local CNS/CSF anti-NMDAR
      antibody production.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31326280
      reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
      explanation: >
        Tumor or post-infectious triggering supports the upstream edge into
        anti-NMDAR antibody production.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
    explanation: >
      The review supports ovarian teratoma and herpes simplex encephalitis as
      upstream triggers of anti-NMDAR autoimmunity.
  - reference: PMID:18851928
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "All teratomas contained nervous tissue; 25 were examined for expression of NMDA receptors, and all were positive (data not shown)."
    explanation: >
      The original case series supports a mechanistic link between teratoma
      neural tissue, NMDA receptor expression, and loss of immune tolerance.
- name: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
  description: >-
    Antibody production is concentrated in the CNS compartment: CSF antibody
    levels can exceed serum levels even when the blood-brain barrier is
    preserved, supporting intrathecal synthesis by antibody-secreting cells.
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: B cell
    term:
      id: CL:0000236
      label: B cell
  - preferred_term: plasma cell
    term:
      id: CL:0000786
      label: plasma cell
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: immunoglobulin production
    modifier: INCREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0002377
      label: immunoglobulin production
  downstream:
  - target: Synaptic NMDAR Cluster Loss
    description: >
      Locally produced antibodies bind extracellular NR1/GluN1 epitopes on
      neuronal NMDA receptors.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:18851928
      reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: IN_VITRO
      snippet: "Patients’ antibodies labelled nearly all clusters of NMDA receptors (figure 4)."
      explanation: >
        Patient antibodies directly bind postsynaptic NMDAR clusters, linking
        intrathecal antibodies to receptor-cluster effects.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:18851928
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Analysis of normalized concentrations of IgG showed that all 53 patients had higher concentrations of antibodies in CSF than in sera, indicating intrathecal synthesis of antibodies (figure 3)."
    explanation: >
      Paired CSF/serum analysis supports intrathecal antibody synthesis as part
      of the pathogenic cascade.
  - reference: PMID:38145121
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "It is characterized by the existence of antibodies against NMDAR, mainly against the GluN1 subunit, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)."
    explanation: >
      This review identifies CSF anti-GluN1/NMDAR antibodies as the defining
      disease marker.
- name: Synaptic NMDAR Cluster Loss
  description: >-
    Patient IgG binds neuronal surface NMDA receptors and reduces the
    cell-surface and postsynaptic receptor cluster pool, producing a selective
    and potentially reversible receptor loss rather than fixed neuronal death.
  locations:
  - preferred_term: brain
    term:
      id: UBERON:0000955
      label: brain
  - preferred_term: hippocampal formation
    term:
      id: UBERON:0002421
      label: hippocampal formation
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: neuron
    term:
      id: CL:0000540
      label: neuron
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: receptor internalization
    modifier: INCREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0031623
      label: receptor internalization
  downstream:
  - target: Glutamatergic Synaptic Hypofunction
    description: >
      Reduced surface and postsynaptic NMDAR availability impairs
      NMDAR-dependent synaptic signaling.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:18851928
      reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: IN_VITRO
      snippet: "Together, these findings show that patients’ antibodies produce a selective and reversible decrease of NMDA-receptor clusters in postsynaptic dendrites."
      explanation: >
        Reversible postsynaptic NMDAR cluster loss supports downstream synaptic
        hypofunction.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:18851928
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: IN_VITRO
    snippet: "adding patients’ IgG to rat hippocampal neuronal cultures produced a concentration-dependent decrease of the cell-surface fraction of NMDA receptors (figure 5)."
    explanation: >
      Patient IgG directly reduced cell-surface NMDA receptor availability in
      cultured hippocampal neurons.
  - reference: PMID:18851928
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: IN_VITRO
    snippet: "Together, these findings show that patients’ antibodies produce a selective and reversible decrease of NMDA-receptor clusters in postsynaptic dendrites."
    explanation: >
      The reversibility of postsynaptic NMDAR cluster loss explains why severe
      disease can improve after antibody-directed treatment.
- name: Glutamatergic Synaptic Hypofunction
  description: >-
    Loss of synaptic NMDA receptors disrupts glutamatergic signaling and
    synaptic plasticity, providing a mechanistic bridge to psychiatric,
    cognitive, seizure, movement, autonomic, and ventilatory manifestations.
  locations:
  - preferred_term: hippocampal formation
    term:
      id: UBERON:0002421
      label: hippocampal formation
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: glutamate receptor signaling pathway
    modifier: DECREASED
    term:
      id: GO:0007215
      label: glutamate receptor signaling pathway
  - preferred_term: regulation of synaptic plasticity
    modifier: ABNORMAL
    term:
      id: GO:0048167
      label: regulation of synaptic plasticity
  downstream:
  - target: Neuropsychiatric and Seizure Syndrome
    description: >
      NMDAR hypofunction maps to the characteristic encephalitis syndrome of
      psychiatric symptoms, seizures, movement disorder, coma, autonomic
      dysfunction, and hypoventilation.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31326280
      reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "autoantibodies serve as a diagnostic marker and alter NMDAR-related synaptic transmission."
      explanation: >
        Altered NMDAR-related synaptic transmission is the mechanistic bridge
        from receptor hypofunction to the clinical syndrome.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:38145121
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Recent research suggests that anti-NMDAR antibodies may reduce NMDAR levels in this disorder, compromising synaptic activity in the hippocampus."
    explanation: >
      The review links anti-NMDAR antibodies to reduced receptor levels and
      hippocampal synaptic dysfunction.
  - reference: PMID:18851928
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "This feature is compatible with disruption of the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, thought to underlie learning and memory, in which the NMDA receptors play a key part."
    explanation: >
      The case series connects persistent amnesia with NMDAR-dependent synaptic
      plasticity disruption.
- name: Blood-Brain Barrier and Immune Trafficking
  description: >-
    Blood-brain barrier function modulates access of antibodies and immune cells
    between peripheral and CNS compartments, and inflammatory cytokine findings
    support barrier involvement in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
  locations:
  - preferred_term: blood brain barrier
    modifier: ABNORMAL
    term:
      id: UBERON:0000120
      label: blood brain barrier
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: maintenance of blood-brain barrier
    modifier: ABNORMAL
    term:
      id: GO:0035633
      label: maintenance of blood-brain barrier
  downstream:
  - target: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
    description: >
      Barrier dysfunction may facilitate antibody and immune-cell traffic that
      sustains the intrathecal immune compartment.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:38145121
      reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which separates the brain from the peripheral circulatory system, is crucial for antibodies and immune cells to enter or exit the CNS."
      explanation: >
        BBB control of antibody and immune-cell traffic supports this edge into
        the intrathecal antibody compartment.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:38145121
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which separates the brain from the peripheral circulatory system, is crucial for antibodies and immune cells to enter or exit the CNS."
    explanation: >
      The review supports BBB involvement as the anatomical interface governing
      antibody and immune-cell traffic.
  - reference: PMID:38145121
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The findings of cytokines in this disorder support the involvement of the BBB."
    explanation: >
      Cytokine findings are cited as evidence that BBB dysfunction participates
      in anti-NMDAR encephalitis biology.
- name: Neuropsychiatric and Seizure Syndrome
  description: >-
    The downstream clinical syndrome reflects reversible NMDAR hypofunction and
    encephalitic network dysfunction, with psychiatric symptoms and seizures
    most often reported in large cohorts and additional movement, consciousness,
    autonomic, and ventilatory involvement in severe disease.
  locations:
  - preferred_term: brain
    term:
      id: UBERON:0000955
      label: brain
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The identification of anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis about 12 years ago made it possible to recognise that some patients with rapidly progressive psychiatric symptoms or cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal movements, or coma of unknown cause, had an autoimmune disease."
    explanation: >
      The review summarizes the characteristic neurologic and psychiatric
      syndrome produced by anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
phenotypes:
- name: Psychosis
  category: Psychiatric
  frequency: VERY_FREQUENT
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Psychosis
    term:
      id: HP:0000709
      label: Psychosis
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The most common clinical manifestations of the anti-NMDAR encephalitis were psychosis (182, 82.7%) and seizures (178, 80.9%)."
    explanation: >
      Psychosis occurred in 82.7% of the 220-patient cohort, placing it in the
      VERY_FREQUENT frequency band.
- name: Seizure
  category: Neurologic
  frequency: VERY_FREQUENT
  diagnostic: true
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Seizure
    term:
      id: HP:0001250
      label: Seizure
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The most common clinical manifestations of the anti-NMDAR encephalitis were psychosis (182, 82.7%) and seizures (178, 80.9%)."
    explanation: >
      Seizures occurred in 80.9% of the 220-patient cohort, placing them in the
      VERY_FREQUENT frequency band.
- name: Dyskinesia
  category: Neurologic
  frequency: COMMON
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Dyskinesia
    term:
      id: HP:0100660
      label: Dyskinesia
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Movement disorder presented more often in patients younger than 18 years than adult patients (38/69, 55.1% vs 56/151, 37.1%, p = 0.01)."
    explanation: >
      The cohort reports movement disorder in 94/220 patients overall, with
      higher frequency in children; dyskinesia is used as the HPO-grounded
      movement-disorder phenotype.
- name: Memory Impairment
  category: Neurologic
  frequency: COMMON
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Memory impairment
    term:
      id: HP:0002354
      label: Memory impairment
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:39566012
    reference_title: "Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Beyond 36 months (n = 44), 34% of patients had a persistent impairment (z-score <-1.5 SD) and 65% scored below-average (<-1 SD) in 1 or more cognitive domains, despite a \"favorable\" outcome measured by mRS (≤2) in the majority (91%)."
    explanation: >
      Long-term cognitive impairment persisted in a substantial subset despite
      favorable mRS outcomes; memory was among the most affected domains.
  - reference: PMID:18851928
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "A characteristic feature of patients who recover from anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis is a persisting amnesia of the entire process (data not shown)."
    explanation: >
      The early case series highlights persistent amnesia as a characteristic
      recovery-phase cognitive feature.
- name: Speech and Language Dysfunction
  category: Neurologic
  diagnostic: true
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Language impairment
    term:
      id: HP:0002463
      label: Language impairment
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "acute onset of 1 or more of the 8 major groups of manifestations: psychosis, memory deficit, speech disturbance, seizures, movement disorder, loss of consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, and central hypoventilation"
    explanation: >
      Speech disturbance is included among the major clinical manifestation
      groups used for anti-NMDAR encephalitis case inclusion in this cohort.
  - reference: PMID:39566012
    reference_title: "Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Most affected were memory (mean -0.67 ± 0.89 SD, p = 0.25) and language (-0.75 ± 1.06 SD, p = 0.23)."
    explanation: >
      Long-term follow-up identifies language as one of the most affected
      cognitive domains after anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
- name: Coma
  category: Neurologic
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Coma
    term:
      id: HP:0001259
      label: Coma
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "some patients with rapidly progressive psychiatric symptoms or cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal movements, or coma of unknown cause, had an autoimmune disease."
    explanation: >
      Coma is listed among the severe neurologic presentations of anti-NMDAR
      encephalitis.
- name: Autonomic Dysfunction
  category: Neurologic
  frequency: COMMON
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Abnormality of the autonomic nervous system
    term:
      id: HP:0002270
      label: Abnormality of the autonomic nervous system
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:33589542
    reference_title: "Long-term Functional Outcomes and Relapse of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: A Cohort Study in Western China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "We reported that 48.4% of patients displayed autonomic symptoms, and other studies on anti-NMDAR encephalitis also reported elevated incidences of autonomic dysfunction (Titulaer: 37%–48%; Dalmau: 69%)."
    explanation: >
      The Western China cohort reports autonomic symptoms in nearly half of
      patients and places the phenotype in the COMMON frequency band.
- name: Central Hypoventilation
  category: Respiratory
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Central hypoventilation
    term:
      id: HP:0007110
      label: Central hypoventilation
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:30578370
    reference_title: "A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "movement disorder (p = 0.001), central hypoventilation (p < 0.001), elevated CSF white blood cell count (p < 0.001), elevated CSF protein level (p = 0.027), and abnormal MRI (p = 0.002) were associated with 1-year functional status in univariate analysis."
    explanation: >
      Central hypoventilation is identified as a clinically important feature
      associated with functional outcome.
- name: EEG Abnormality
  category: Neurologic
  frequency: COMMON
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: EEG abnormality
    term:
      id: HP:0002353
      label: EEG abnormality
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Abnormal EEG findings were seen in 113 (51.4%) patients: 102 (46.4%) had slow activity and 14 (6.4%) epileptic discharges."
    explanation: >
      EEG abnormalities occurred in 51.4% of the 220-patient cohort.
- name: CSF Pleocytosis
  category: Neurologic
  frequency: VERY_FREQUENT
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: CSF pleocytosis
    term:
      id: HP:0012229
      label: CSF pleocytosis
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Of note, 81.3% of the patients had pleocytosis, the median white blood cell count was 14.0 (IQR 7.0–22.5) × 106/L, and 90.9% were of mononuclear cells (i.e., lymphocyte and monocytes)."
    explanation: >
      CSF pleocytosis occurred in 81.3% of the prospective cohort, placing it
      in the VERY_FREQUENT frequency band.
biochemical:
- name: CSF Anti-NMDAR IgG
  presence: Positive
  context: Cerebrospinal fluid
  notes: IgG antibodies target the GluN1/NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:38145121
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "It is characterized by the existence of antibodies against NMDAR, mainly against the GluN1 subunit, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)."
    explanation: >
      CSF anti-GluN1/NMDAR antibodies are the defining diagnostic biomarker.
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "All patients (100%) were positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies in CSF, and 157 (71.4%) were positive in serum."
    explanation: >
      Paired testing in the 220-patient cohort supports high diagnostic value
      of CSF antibody detection relative to serum.
- name: CSF White Blood Cell Count
  presence: Elevated
  context: Cerebrospinal fluid
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:30578370
    reference_title: "A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Intensive care unit admission, treatment delay >4 weeks, lack of clinical improvement within 4 weeks, abnormal MRI, and CSF white blood cell count >20 cells/μL were independent predictors for outcome in multivariate regression modeling."
    explanation: >
      Elevated CSF white blood cell count is both a diagnostic inflammatory
      marker and one component of the NEOS prognostic score.
- name: Serum Anti-NMDAR IgG
  presence: Positive in subset
  context: Serum
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "All patients (100%) were positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies in CSF, and 157 (71.4%) were positive in serum."
    explanation: >
      Serum antibody positivity is common but less consistently detected than
      CSF positivity in paired testing.
environmental:
- name: Ovarian teratoma
  description: >
    Ovarian teratoma is a recognized tumor trigger and should prompt tumor
    screening and removal when identified.
  effect: Triggers or sustains NMDAR autoimmunity
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Tumours, usually ovarian teratoma, and herpes simplex encephalitis are known triggers of NMDAR autoimmunity."
    explanation: >
      The review identifies ovarian teratoma as a common tumor trigger.
  - reference: PMID:38728608
    reference_title: "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Ovarian teratomas were found in 58.3% of Black female individuals and 10%-28.6% in other groups."
    explanation: >
      A US incidence cohort shows ovarian teratoma frequency varies across
      female patient groups.
- name: Herpes simplex encephalitis
  description: >
    Herpes simplex encephalitis can precede anti-NMDAR encephalitis and defines
    a post-infectious trigger subgroup with poorer long-term prognosis in
    recent cohort data.
  effect: Post-infectious trigger of NMDAR autoimmunity
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:39147951
    reference_title: "Specific clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis following herpes encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Herein, patients with HSE-NMDARE have a poorer long-term prognosis than patients with regular NMDARE."
    explanation: >
      This cohort supports post-HSE anti-NMDAR encephalitis as a clinically
      distinct and prognostically important subgroup.
- name: Geographic and climatic factors
  description: >
    Latitude, temperature, and ultraviolet exposure have been associated with
    reported incidence variation, suggesting environmental modulation of risk.
  effect: Modifies disease incidence
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:37371620
    reference_title: "Spatial and Ecological Factors Modulate the Incidence of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis-A Systematic Review."
    supports: PARTIAL
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "This study provides the first evidence that geographic and climatic factors including latitude, mean annual temperature, and ultraviolet exposure, might modify disease risk."
    explanation: >
      Ecologic evidence suggests environmental risk modification, but causality
      and individual-level mechanisms remain uncertain.
progression:
- phase: Prodromal and subacute neuropsychiatric onset
  notes: >
    Patients typically develop a rapidly progressive encephalitic syndrome in
    which psychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal
    movements, or coma may precede recognition of autoimmune disease.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "some patients with rapidly progressive psychiatric symptoms or cognitive impairment, seizures, abnormal movements, or coma of unknown cause, had an autoimmune disease."
    explanation: >
      The review describes the subacute syndrome that led to recognition of
      anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
- phase: Acute severe encephalitis and prognostic assessment
  notes: >
    Acute severity is captured by ICU admission, treatment delay, early lack of
    improvement, abnormal MRI, and CSF WBC elevation; these features compose the
    NEOS prognostic score for 1-year functional outcome.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:30578370
    reference_title: "A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Intensive care unit admission, treatment delay >4 weeks, lack of clinical improvement within 4 weeks, abnormal MRI, and CSF white blood cell count >20 cells/μL were independent predictors for outcome in multivariate regression modeling."
    explanation: >
      The NEOS study defines acute predictors that stratify expected 1-year
      functional recovery.
- phase: Recovery and relapse risk
  notes: >
    Recovery often continues for months to years, but relapse occurs in a
    clinically important minority and cognitive/psychosocial deficits can
    persist after apparently favorable mRS recovery.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:23290630
    reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Outcomes continued to improve for up to 18 months after symptom onset."
    explanation: >
      The 577-patient observational cohort shows prolonged recovery after
      disease onset.
  - reference: PMID:33589542
    reference_title: "Long-term Functional Outcomes and Relapse of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: A Cohort Study in Western China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Overall, 15.9% of the patients had one or multiple relapses, with 82.0% experiencing the first relapse within 24 months and 76.9% experiencing relapses that were less severe than the initial episodes."
    explanation: >
      The Western China cohort quantifies relapse frequency and timing.
  - reference: PMID:39566012
    reference_title: "Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Recovery from anti-NMDAR encephalitis may continue for 3 years, with risk of persisting cognitive deficits, notably in memory and language, and sequelae in social functioning, energy levels, and well-being."
    explanation: >
      Long-term follow-up shows mRS can miss persistent cognitive and
      patient-reported impairment.
treatments:
- name: First-Line Immunotherapy
  description: >
    Initial treatment uses corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma
    exchange, or combinations of these therapies, often alongside tumor removal
    when a tumor is identified.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: immunotherapy
    term:
      id: MAXO:0001002
      label: immunotherapy procedure
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: >
      First-line immunotherapy suppresses the inflammatory antibody-mediated
      process and can reduce circulating or intrathecal pathogenic antibody
      effects.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:23290630
      reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "Most patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis respond to immunotherapy."
      explanation: >
        Clinical response to immunotherapy supports inhibition of the
        antibody-mediated immune process.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:23290630
    reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Treatment included first-line immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis), second-line immunotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide), and tumour removal."
    explanation: >
      The large observational cohort defines the core first-line and
      second-line treatment categories used in anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
  - reference: PMID:23290630
    reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "472 (94%) underwent first-line immunotherapy or tumour removal, resulting in improvement within 4 weeks in 251 (53%)."
    explanation: >
      Most assessable patients received first-line treatment or tumor removal,
      with early improvement in just over half.
- name: High-Dose Corticosteroid Therapy
  description: >
    Corticosteroids are commonly used in first-line acute immunotherapy,
    including pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone in severe disease.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: systemic corticosteroid therapy
    term:
      id: NCIT:C122080
      label: Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: Corticosteroids suppress acute CNS and systemic inflammation.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31619447
      reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "A total of 208 (94.5%) patients received steroids, of whom 103 (46.8%) received pulsed IV methylprednisolone."
      explanation: >
        The cohort documents corticosteroid use as a major acute
        immunosuppressive treatment.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "A total of 208 (94.5%) patients received steroids, of whom 103 (46.8%) received pulsed IV methylprednisolone."
    explanation: >
      This prospective cohort documents frequent use of corticosteroids and
      pulsed IV methylprednisolone in real-world acute treatment.
- name: Plasma Exchange
  description: >
    Plasma exchange is used as an acute first-line or escalation strategy to
    remove pathogenic antibodies.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: plasmapheresis
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15304
      label: Plasmapheresis
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: >
      Plasma exchange lowers pathogenic antibody burden, especially the
      circulating component.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:23290630
      reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "Treatment included first-line immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis), second-line immunotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide), and tumour removal."
      explanation: >
        Plasmapheresis is explicitly included among first-line antibody-directed
        immunotherapies.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:23290630
    reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Treatment included first-line immunotherapy (steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis), second-line immunotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide), and tumour removal."
    explanation: >
      The cohort explicitly includes plasmapheresis among first-line
      immunotherapies.
- name: Intravenous Immunoglobulin
  description: >
    Intravenous immunoglobulin is a first-line immunotherapy used alone or with
    corticosteroids and/or plasma exchange.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: intravenous immunoglobulin therapy
    term:
      id: NCIT:C121331
      label: Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity
    treatment_effect: MODULATES
    description: >
      IVIG modulates immune effector pathways and pathogenic autoantibody
      activity.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31619447
      reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "IVIG was administered to 199 (90.5%) patients, and 7 (3.2%) patients underwent PE."
      explanation: >
        High use of IVIG in this cohort supports IVIG as a core immune-modulating
        acute therapy.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "IVIG was administered to 199 (90.5%) patients, and 7 (3.2%) patients underwent PE."
    explanation: >
      IVIG was used in most patients in this prospective Chinese cohort.
- name: Rituximab or Cyclophosphamide Second-Line Immunotherapy
  description: >
    Patients who fail first-line therapy may receive rituximab and/or
    cyclophosphamide as second-line immunotherapy.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: Pharmacotherapy
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15986
      label: Pharmacotherapy
    therapeutic_agent:
    - preferred_term: rituximab
      term:
        id: NCIT:C1702
        label: Rituximab
    - preferred_term: cyclophosphamide
      term:
        id: CHEBI:4027
        label: cyclophosphamide
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: >
      B-cell depletion or cytotoxic immunosuppression reduces autoreactive
      lymphocyte populations driving antibody production.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:23290630
      reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "Of 221 patients who did not improve with first-line treatment, 125 (57%) received second-line immunotherapy that resulted in a better outcome (mRS 0-2) than those who did not"
      explanation: >
        Better outcomes after second-line rituximab/cyclophosphamide support
        targeting persistent immune antibody production.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:23290630
    reference_title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Of 221 patients who did not improve with first-line treatment, 125 (57%) received second-line immunotherapy that resulted in a better outcome (mRS 0-2) than those who did not"
    explanation: >
      The observational cohort supports second-line immunotherapy for patients
      not improving after first-line therapy.
- name: Long-Term Mycophenolate or Azathioprine Immunotherapy
  description: >
    Mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine are used as longer-term
    immunosuppressive treatment in selected severe, refractory, or relapsing
    anti-NMDAR encephalitis cases.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: Pharmacotherapy
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15986
      label: Pharmacotherapy
    therapeutic_agent:
    - preferred_term: mycophenolate mofetil
      term:
        id: CHEBI:8764
        label: mycophenolate mofetil
    - preferred_term: azathioprine
      term:
        id: CHEBI:2948
        label: azathioprine
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Intrathecal Anti-NMDAR Antibody Production
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: >
      Long-term steroid-sparing immunosuppression is used to suppress ongoing
      autoimmune activity and reduce relapse-management burden.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31619447
      reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "Long-term immunotherapy was administered mainly in patients who were enrolled later, as an add-on therapy for severe or refractory patients in the acute phase, or as maintenance therapy to prevent and manage relapses."
      explanation: >
        The cohort describes long-term immunotherapy as an add-on or
        maintenance strategy for severe, refractory, or relapsing disease.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "Long-term immunotherapy was administered mainly in patients who were enrolled later, as an add-on therapy for severe or refractory patients in the acute phase, or as maintenance therapy to prevent and manage relapses."
    explanation: >
      This prospective cohort explicitly identifies the treatment phase and
      clinical role of long-term immunotherapy.
  - reference: PMID:31619447
    reference_title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "In general, MMF was administered in 109 (49.5%) patients, 55 of whom at onset and 54 after relapse, and AZA was administered in 8 (3.6%) patients."
    explanation: >
      Mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine use is quantified in the cohort,
      supporting these agents as long-term immunotherapy options.
- name: Tumor Removal
  description: >
    Surgical removal of an associated ovarian teratoma or other tumor is part of
    standard management when a tumor is identified.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: surgical procedure
    term:
      id: MAXO:0000004
      label: surgical procedure
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Triggered Anti-GluN1 Autoimmunity
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: >
      Removing a teratoma eliminates a potential antigen source sustaining
      NMDAR autoimmunity.
    evidence:
    - reference: PMID:31326280
      reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
      supports: SUPPORT
      evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
      snippet: "About 80% of patients improve with immunotherapy and, if needed, tumour removal, but the recovery is slow."
      explanation: >
        Tumor removal is linked with clinical improvement when tumor-associated
        disease is present.
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:31326280
    reference_title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "About 80% of patients improve with immunotherapy and, if needed, tumour removal, but the recovery is slow."
    explanation: >
      The review identifies tumor removal as part of effective management when
      tumor-associated disease is present.
clinical_trials:
- name: NCT03274375
  phase: PHASE_II
  status: RECRUITING
  description: >
    Prospective study of immunoadsorption therapy for severe pediatric
    anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
  target_phenotypes:
  - preferred_term: Seizure
    term:
      id: HP:0001250
      label: Seizure
  - preferred_term: Dyskinesia
    term:
      id: HP:0100660
      label: Dyskinesia
  evidence:
  - reference: clinicaltrials:NCT03274375
    reference_title: "Prospective Assessment of Efficacy of Immunoadsorption Therapy in Managing Childhood NMDA-Receptor (NMDAR) Antibodies Encephalitis"
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of immunoadsorption therapy (IA) on improving the neurological status of severe pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients."
    explanation: >
      ClinicalTrials.gov describes the trial as testing immunoadsorption in
      severe pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
- name: NCT06183788
  status: RECRUITING
  description: >
    AMENDS study of symptoms, biomarkers, mechanisms, remote follow-up tools,
    and cognitive rehabilitation in the prolonged recovery stage.
  target_phenotypes:
  - preferred_term: Memory impairment
    term:
      id: HP:0002354
      label: Memory impairment
  evidence:
  - reference: clinicaltrials:NCT06183788
    reference_title: "Antibody-mediated NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: Symptoms, Biomarkers, and Mechanisms of the Prolonged Recovery Stage"
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "In Aim 1, the post-acute stage will be clinically characterized, tools to remotely follow cognitive, behavioral and psychiatric deficits will be provided, and the impact of cognitive rehabilitation will be assessed."
    explanation: >
      The trial targets long-term cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric
      deficits after the acute stage.
- name: NCT06023160
  status: RECRUITING
  description: >
    International cohort study developing the NEOSII score to predict long-term
    outcome and response to first-line immunotherapy at diagnosis.
  evidence:
  - reference: clinicaltrials:NCT06023160
    reference_title: "Predicting Functional Outcome and Response to Therapy of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis at Diagnosis: The NEOSII Score"
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: "The goal of this international cohort study is to develop a prediction model for long-term outcome and response to first-line immunotherapy of anti-NMDAR Encephalitis, already at the moment of diagnosis."
    explanation: >
      The study extends prognostic modeling to diagnosis-time prediction of
      long-term outcome and treatment response.
datasets:
references:
- reference: DOI:10.1007/s00415-024-12615-7
  title: Specific clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis following herpes encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-67485-6
  title: "Influencing electroclinical features and prognostic factors in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis: a cohort follow-up study in Chinese patients"
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1111/dmcn.13579
  title: High sensitivity and specificity in proposed clinical diagnostic criteria for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1152/physrev.00010.2016
  title: Autoantibodies to Synaptic Receptors and Neuronal Cell Surface Proteins in Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/NXI.0000000000000633
  title: Anti-NMDAR encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/NXI.0000000000000958
  title: Long-term Functional Outcomes and Relapse of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/NXI.0000000000200255
  title: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000003414
  title: NMDA receptor encephalitis and other antibody-mediated disorders of the synapse
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000006783
  title: A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000207221
  title: Predictive Value of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000210109
  title: Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.2147/IJGM.S397429
  title: "Anti-NMDA Receptor Autoimmune Encephalitis: Diagnosis and Management Strategies"
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.3389/fneur.2023.1283511
  title: Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: DOI:10.3390/biomedicines11061525
  title: Spatial and Ecological Factors Modulate the Incidence of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis-A Systematic Review
  found_in:
  - Anti-NMDA_Receptor_Encephalitis-deep-research-falcon.md
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:17262855
  title: Paraneoplastic anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis associated with ovarian teratoma.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:18851928
  title: "Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies."
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:23290630
  title: "Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study."
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:26906964
  title: A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:28972277
  title: High sensitivity and specificity in proposed clinical diagnostic criteria for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:30578370
  title: A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:31326280
  title: "An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models."
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:31619447
  title: "Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China."
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:33589542
  title: "Long-term Functional Outcomes and Relapse of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: A Cohort Study in Western China."
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:37371620
  title: Spatial and Ecological Factors Modulate the Incidence of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis-A Systematic Review.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:38145121
  title: "Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis."
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:38728608
  title: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:39147951
  title: Specific clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis following herpes encephalitis.
  findings: []
- reference: PMID:39566012
  title: Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis.
  findings: []
- reference: clinicaltrials:NCT03274375
  title: Prospective Assessment of Efficacy of Immunoadsorption Therapy in Managing Childhood NMDA-Receptor (NMDAR) Antibodies Encephalitis
  findings: []
- reference: clinicaltrials:NCT06183788
  title: "Antibody-mediated NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: Symptoms, Biomarkers, and Mechanisms of the Prolonged Recovery Stage"
  findings: []
- reference: clinicaltrials:NCT06023160
  title: "Predicting Functional Outcome and Response to Therapy of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis at Diagnosis: The NEOSII Score"
  findings: []
📚

References & Deep Research

References

31
Specific clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis following herpes encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Influencing electroclinical features and prognostic factors in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis: a cohort follow-up study in Chinese patients
No top-level findings curated for this source.
High sensitivity and specificity in proposed clinical diagnostic criteria for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Autoantibodies to Synaptic Receptors and Neuronal Cell Surface Proteins in Autoimmune Diseases of the Central Nervous System
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Anti-NMDAR encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Long-term Functional Outcomes and Relapse of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
NMDA receptor encephalitis and other antibody-mediated disorders of the synapse
No top-level findings curated for this source.
A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Predictive Value of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Anti-NMDA Receptor Autoimmune Encephalitis: Diagnosis and Management Strategies
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Spatial and Ecological Factors Modulate the Incidence of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis-A Systematic Review
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Paraneoplastic anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis associated with ovarian teratoma.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis: case series and analysis of the effects of antibodies.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Treatment and prognostic factors for long-term outcome in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: an observational cohort study.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
A clinical approach to diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
High sensitivity and specificity in proposed clinical diagnostic criteria for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
A score that predicts 1-year functional status in patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
An update on anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis for neurologists and psychiatrists: mechanisms and models.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: A single-center, longitudinal study in China.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Long-term Functional Outcomes and Relapse of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: A Cohort Study in Western China.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Spatial and Ecological Factors Modulate the Incidence of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis-A Systematic Review.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Anti-NMDAR antibodies, the blood-brain barrier, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Incidence of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Specific clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis following herpes encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis.
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Prospective Assessment of Efficacy of Immunoadsorption Therapy in Managing Childhood NMDA-Receptor (NMDAR) Antibodies Encephalitis
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Antibody-mediated NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: Symptoms, Biomarkers, and Mechanisms of the Prolonged Recovery Stage
No top-level findings curated for this source.
Predicting Functional Outcome and Response to Therapy of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis at Diagnosis: The NEOSII Score
No top-level findings curated for this source.

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Asta Literature Retrieval: Pathophysiology and clinical mechanisms of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis. Core disease mechanisms, molecular and ce...
Asta Scientific Corpus Retrieval 18 citations 2026-05-16T00:24:29.136027

Asta Literature Retrieval: Pathophysiology and clinical mechanisms of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis. Core disease mechanisms, molecular and ce...

This report is retrieval-only and is generated directly from Asta results.

  • Papers retrieved: 18
  • Snippets retrieved: 20

Relevant Papers

[1] Global study of anti-NMDA encephalitis: a bibliometric analysis from 2005 to 2023

  • Authors: Xinyue Song, Zixin Luo, Duoqin Huang, Jialian Lv, Li Xiao et al.
  • Year: 2024
  • Venue: Frontiers in Neurology
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b57cb6594188ed0e2575076019dd6ad402d87ca0
  • DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1387260
  • PMID: 38711554
  • PMCID: 11070467
  • Citations: 4
  • Summary: A bibliometric and visualization analysis from 2005 to 2023 shows that the number of studies on anti-NMDA encephalitis is generally increasing year by year, and it is a hot disease pursued by researchers.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.553) > Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune-mediated disease characterized by a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome, and an antibody to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) targeting the GluN1 subunit of NMDAR exists (14,15), a brain parenchymal inflammation associated with autoimmune-related neurologic dysfunction (16). Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was first reported in 2005, when symptoms of psychotic features, memory loss, and altered consciousness were found in four young women with ovarian teratomas (17). In 2007, a study found a new autoantibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or serum of 12 female patients with an early psychotic This discovery ushered in a new era of diagnostic medicine (18). The etiology of anti-NMDA encephalitis is, for the moment, uncertain, but some studies suggest that it may be able to be triggered by viruses, vaccines or tumors (19,20). IgG antibodies targeting the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) are key mediators in the pathogenesis of the disease (21). Antibody-mediated NMDAR dysfunction leads to severe psychiatric symptoms, including memory loss (22), dyskinesia (23), psychotic symptoms (24), drowsiness, seizures (25), impaired consciousness, and even coma in severe cases. Early recognition and rapid activation of a range of immunotherapies may be able to improve the prognosis of patients with anti-NMDA encephalitis. Clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid examination, neuroimaging, and electroencephalography can be used for diagnostic typing of encephalitis (26), and are important modalities for guiding the clinical approach to treatment and achieving a favorable outcome for patients. As research progresses, relevant animal models have begun to reveal underlying pathogenic mechanisms and will lead to the development of new therapies in addition to immunotherapy (3).
  • Snippet 2 (score: 0.406) > However, it is worth noting that there may be some differences between children and adults (33), and we believe that the most common clinical manifestations of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in children are epilepsy, movement disorders, and personality changes, as well as the incidence of comorbid tumors in pediatric patients is lower than in adults (17). The younger the age, the lower the likelihood of tumor development, suggesting that the pathogenesis may differ between children and adults (34). Research into potential clinical treatment modalities for anti-NMDA encephalitis has been an outbreak hotspot in recent years. The treatment of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis mainly relies on searching for the relevant causes and treating the causes as much as possible, including receiving immunotherapy, supportive therapy, Second-line drug therapy, including rituximab and cyclophosphamide, can often be considered when patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis do not respond significantly to first-line drug therapy, but overall immunotherapy for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis remains the main effective approach at present. This study focuses on a new type of autoimmune encephalitis anti-NMDA encephalitis. And the discovery of NMDA receptor has opened up the research field of anti-NMDA encephalitis which reveals the pathogenesis of anti-NMDA encephalitis and also provides an important theoretical basis for the development of drugs targeting NMDA receptor which brings a new hope for the treatment of patients. Among the six clusters in the keyword timeline graph two are related to anti-NMDA encephalitis and two are related to anti-NMDA receptor just using different forms to convey the same meaning. In addition through the timeline we found that in recent years the research on anti-NMDA encephalitis has gradually shifted from the previous basic research to focus on the clinical direction including its clinical features outcomes and related case reports but there are still fewer research articles suggesting that future scholars can focus on the clinical aspect of the research to explore new manifestations and characteristics.
  • Snippet 3 (score: 0.402) > Keyword clustering mapping showed that studies in the field of anti-NMDA encephalitis were mainly centered on its definition, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic indicators, therapeutic modalities, and case reports, and the results confirmed that anti-NMDA encephalitis is an autoimmune-mediated disease manifesting as a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome, which results in a wide range of neurological symptoms, including psychiatric symptoms, movement disorders, memory disorders (14). And according to the clustering results, for cluster 2 we explored the specific clinical manifestations of anti-NMDA encephalitis, suggesting that patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis present a characteristic stage-by-stage clinical course, and according to the course curve of classical anti-NMDAR encephalitis drawn by Kayser and Dalmau (32), we found that patients often have an antecedent infection 2 weeks before the onset of the disease, which leads to the development of certain antecedent symptoms, mainly viral cold symptoms; 1-2 weeks of progression of psychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations, mania, delusions, anxiety, insomnia; weeks to months of neurological complications: disorders of consciousness, central hypoventilation, and even coma, often accompanied by dyskinesia and seizures; and months to years of neurological symptoms: executive functions, hypoparathyroidism and hyperventilation. Long-term deficits such as executive dysfunction, impulsivity and sleep disturbances are manifested over a period of months to years, and the critical but relatively reversible nature of the disease is an important feature. It was even found that the course of recovery from the disease was consistent with the course of disease progression, i.e., the first symptoms to appear disappeared last. However, it is worth noting that there may be some differences between children and adults (33), and we believe that the most common clinical manifestations of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in children are epilepsy, movement disorders, and personality changes, as well as the incidence of comorbid tumors in pediatric patients is lower than in adults (17).

[2] Symptomatologic pathomechanism of N-methyl D-aspartate receptor encephalitis

  • Authors: Woo-Jin Lee
  • Year: 2021
  • Venue: Encephalitis
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/fe42ff1f42de5346c36c54b79c4684a07f88f107
  • DOI: 10.47936/encephalitis.2021.00017
  • PMID: 37469763
  • PMCID: 10295887
  • Summary: Those pathomechanistic hypotheses for NMDAR encephalitis support the rationale for the early introduction of combination immunotherapy and the use of adjuvant immunotherapy in patients with persisting symptoms in chronic disease phases.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.517) > N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a well-characterized clinical syndrome. The main molecular mechanism of NMDAR encephalitis is autoantibody-mediated NMDAR hypofunction in the neuronal synapse. Several pathomechanistic hypotheses might explain how NMDAR hypofunction causes the typical symptoms and prognosis of NMDAR encephalitis. Suppression of NMDAR-dependent gamma-aminobutyric acid interneurons provokes an accelerated activation of the positive feedback loops of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex/subiculum–nucleus accumbens circuit in the striatum, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and the nucleus reuniens in the thalamus–hippocampus–VTA loop. Dysregulated activation of the VTA and cortex via those positive feedback loops may explain the rapid clinical deterioration at acute stages of the disease and the well-characterized syndrome that includes limbic system dysfunction, intractable seizures, dyskinesia, coma, and the characteristic extreme delta brush. Progressive cerebellar atrophy is correlated with cumulative disease burden and is associated with worse long-term outcomes, which might be explained by the NMDAR-dependent pathways required to maintain neuronal survival. Those pathomechanistic hypotheses for NMDAR encephalitis support the rationale for the early introduction of combination immunotherapy and the use of adjuvant immunotherapy in patients with persisting symptoms in chronic disease phases.

[3] Recent advances in autoimmune encephalitis

  • Authors: J. Ferreira, C. Disserol, Bruna de Freitas Dias, Alexandre Coelho Marques, Marina Driemeier Cardoso et al.
  • Year: 2024
  • Venue: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/36759fd04ed2757c5112e8fa3f3dec5dfd4a4d47
  • DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1793933
  • PMID: 39706227
  • PMCID: 11661894
  • Citations: 6
  • Summary: The clinical spectrum of anti-LGI1, anti-AMPAR, anti-CASPR2, and anti-IgLON5 was expanded, comprising new differential diagnoses, and a diagnostic algorithm was proposed, considering potential mimics and misdiagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.516) > Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis is caused by ABs targeting the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor, which causes cross-linking and internalization of those receptors, leading to impaired NMDAR electric currents. 13,14 nimal models showed that anti-NMDAR ABs modify CA1 pyramidal cells' excitability and hippocampal network activity. 15 Additionally, hippocampal proteomics revealed changes in components of glutamatergic, GABAergic, and central hubs of intracellular signaling, providing insights into molecular mechanisms for electrophysiological findings and pathophysiology. 15 ecently, the mean annualized incidence rate of anti-NMDARE was estimated at 1.00/million cases in the Netherlands. 8 Anti-NMDARE predominates in young women, with an ovarian teratoma found in nearly 50% of cases. 16 8][19] Moreover, one recent case series showed that 20% of patients were > 45 years, indicating that late presentation may be more common than previously expected. 10 These late-onset cases were associated with other tumors, mainly carcinomas, were oligosymptomatic, and had worse outcome. 10,16 he classic anti-NMDARE clinical syndrome starts with prodromal symptoms, followed by cognitive or psychiatric manifestations (delusions, psychosis, catatonia), movement disorders (orofacial dyskinesias, choreoathetosis), speech disorder, dysautonomia, seizures, and decreased level of consciousness. 12,16 substantial number of patients require ICU admission for management of status epilepticus, autonomic dysfunction, and mechanical ventilation. 4 Clinical variables from the acute presentation can be used to evaluate disease prognosis. The anti-NMDAR Encephalitis One-Year Functional Status (NEOS) score predicts functional outcomes after 1 year of symptoms onset and includes 5 clinical variables: This score also performed well for children, and preliminary findings indicate that it can also be used for cognitive outcomes. 21 n the post-acute phase, patients may present a neuropsychiatric syndrome that resembles schizophrenia, which improves gradually. 22

[4] First-episode psychosis in a 15 year-old female with clinical presentation of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: a case report and review of the literature

  • Authors: Maria Moura, Amílcar Silva-Dos-Santos, J. Afonso, M. Talina
  • Year: 2016
  • Venue: BMC Research Notes
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/1646c9c0933489c5f3308172ec520d0e2a2e1133
  • DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2180-6
  • PMID: 27473459
  • PMCID: 4966559
  • Citations: 10
  • Summary: This case is presented of a 15 year-old female adolescent with first-episode psychosis with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis not related to tumor, which manifested with delusion, hallucinations, panic attacks, agitation, and neurological symptoms, and later with autonomic instability.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.503) > Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune disease that was first identified as a paraneoplastic syndrome in young women with ovarian teratomas, and can also occur as a rare manifestation of teratoma of the mediastinum, or due to testicular cancer or small-cell lung carcinoma [7,10]; however it can also be non-paraneoplastic [3,22]. The clinical presentation usually consists of three stages: a prodromal period that lasts up to 1 week with common cold-like symptoms, fever, headache, malaise or gastroenteritis; an intermediate period, lasting 1-3 weeks, with behavioral changes, psychiatric symptoms or mood changes. The most common clinical presentation resembles acute psychosis (anxiety, agitation, paranoia, auditory or visual hallucinations) [7,23], meaning that psychiatrists are usually the first physicians to observe these patients. The third stage can last from weeks to months, and consist of neurological and autonomic symptoms, including alteration in speech, catatonia, and seizures. The common autonomic symptoms include urinary incontinence or sleep dysfunction. The more severe autonomic symptoms, such as hypoventilation, dysrhythmia, tachycardia, and hyperthermia, are not frequent in children [11]. It has been shown that this condition is more frequent in children than was previously thought and that its clinical manifestations in the pediatric population are similar to those of adults [11]. > The exact pathophysiology of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is not fully understood. It is believed that NR1 subunits expressed by tumoral neural tissues may break the immune tolerance [10]. However, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is not always related to teratoma or other malignancies, and hence, other immunologic mechanisms might be involved. Hypotheses thus far proposed include the concept that there is an immunological response to a flu-like prodromal phase possibly related to a viral infection, and genetic susceptibility [10].

[5] Neuroleptic intolerance in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis

  • Authors: F. Lejuste, L. Thomas, G. Picard, V. Desestret, F. Ducray et al.
  • Year: 2016
  • Venue: Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/9d6905fe5955e78d89679ebecd667546c084bbcc
  • DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000280
  • PMID: 27606355
  • PMCID: 5004531
  • Citations: 150
  • Influential citations: 13
  • Summary: Several psychiatric presentations were observed in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, although none was specific; however, patients, mostly women, also had discreet neurologic signs that should be carefully assessed as well as signs of antipsychotic intolerance that should raise suspicion for anti- NMDAREncephalitis.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.500) > cephalitis. > Our results also outline that emergency physicians, neurologists, and psychiatrists must systematically search for associated discreet neurologic signs and symptoms relevant to encephalitis in young patients with psychiatric symptoms. Indeed, more than half (n 5 24) of the 45 patients hospitalized in psychiatric departments had neurologic signs at the first evaluation. Despite the presence of these comorbid elements, the patients were not correctly diagnosed or hospitalized in an appropriate unit and did not receive the medical investigations required for diagnosis of encephalitis. Many patients had a normal neuroimaging, which was misinterpreted to support a primary psychiatric etiology of symptoms and signs, but neuroimaging is frequently normal in anti-NMDAR encephalitis. 2,11 An interesting observation was the very high rate of possible antipsychotic drug intolerance in our 19 In particular, it should be stressed that one patient presented with 3 previous psychiatric episodes, separated by many years, and for each episode, she had experienced severe intolerance to antipsychotic drugs. DSM-5 20 and DSM-IV 21 do not provide an exact list of criteria for NMS, and we did not have enough information on the 21 patients to strictly confirm the diagnosis of NMS, but the significantly high rate of fever with abnormal biological data in our patients receiving antipsychotic drugs and the absence of such clinical presentation in the group of patients who were not treated with antipsychotic drugs suggests the existence of a pathophysiologic overlap between NMS, malignant catatonia, and anti-NMDAR encephalitis. > Interestingly, hypofunction of glutamatergic neurotransmission has been proposed in the etiology of NMS, 22 although amantadine, a weak NMDA receptor antagonist, improves NMS symptoms in a Parkinson disease model. 23,24 Beyond the apparent contradiction of glutamatergic functioning, the pathophysiologic interplay between the NMDAR and dopaminergic receptors, and more generally monoamine signaling, emerges as a core mechanism in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Any alteration in NMDAR signaling at the neuronal surface (as reported in anti-NMDAR encephalitis 25

[6] Deciphering the molecular landscape of NMDAR-E associated ovarian teratomas: a Multi-Omics approach

  • Authors: Lingwei Ma, Xinmeng Sun, Shaohua Zhang, Yinping Xiao, Haiyun Guan et al.
  • Year: 2025
  • Venue: Journal of Ovarian Research
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/1e51dd97cee96f7970afd788203963afd0ddd878
  • DOI: 10.1186/s13048-025-01871-4
  • PMID: 41339905
  • PMCID: 12676869
  • Citations: 1
  • Summary: Key genes and proteins involved in ferroptosis and immune activation, including SLC40A1, GGH, FKBP11, CCDC80, and ANK3, showed significant expression differences, and changes were notable at the mRNA and protein levels in ovarian teratomas associated with NMDAR-E.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.492) > Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDAR-E) is an autoimmune disorder often associated with ovarian teratomas. It involves antibodies against the neuronal NMDAr1 subunits of NR1, but the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. To identify significantly differentially expressed genes and proteins and investigate the intricate molecular regulatory network underlying anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDAR-E) associated with ovarian teratomas. This retrospective study analyzed ovarian teratoma samples from patients with and without NMDAR-E. RNA sequencing and iTRAQ coupled LC-MS/MS analysis were used for gene and protein expression profiling. qPCR and western blotting were used to validate the gene and protein expression. We identified 2524 significantly differentially expressed genes and 34 proteins. The changes were notable at the mRNA and protein levels in ovarian teratomas associated with NMDAR-E. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the extracellular matrix and immune activation pathways. Key genes and proteins involved in ferroptosis and immune activation, including SLC40A1, GGH, FKBP11, CCDC80, and ANK3, showed significant expression differences. Our findings provide preliminary insights into the pathophysiology of NMDAR-E associated with ovarian teratomas. These results may generate hypotheses for future mechanistic studies, and the candidate biomarkers identified warrant further validation before clinical translation.

[7] Simultaneous serum aquaporin-4 antibody and CSF NMDA receptor antibody–positive encephalitis

  • Authors: Unknown authors
  • Year: 2015
  • Venue: Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ce7b01bd99ff2ef99c25ece6e5208893b23b7008
  • DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000101
  • PMID: 25884011
  • PMCID: 4396527
  • Citations: 2
  • Summary: A 29-year-old Hmong woman presented with 3 months of worsening imbalance and intermittent vertigo followed by right facial numbness, slurred/nonsensical speech, and memory impairment, which revealed impaired short-term memory, expressive aphasia, mild right appendicular ataxia, and profound abulia.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.480) > disorder followed by NMDA receptor encephalitis was recently reported in 5 patients. 3 The simultaneous occurrence of these CNS pathogenic antibodies with pathologic findings has not been previously reported. Although we do not know to what extent the anti-NMO/AQP4 and the anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies contributed to the presentation, the clinical and radiographic features in this case suggest features of both NMO spectrum disorder and NMDA receptor encephalitis. Clinical and radiographic features that could be consistent with NMO include the brainstem syndrome with anorexia and radiographic involvement of the brainstem, hypothalamus, and optic chiasm. Similarly, cognitive impairment and akinesia along with the radiographic features of encephalitis might be due to NMDA receptor antibodies. > Other autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, and myasthenia gravis, occur in patients with NMO. Many patients with NMO test seropositive for other autoantibodies. 4 More recently, anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies were associated with a Neurology.org/nn © 2015 American Academy of Neurology 1 clinical presentation consistent with NMO. 5 We speculate that a mechanism underlying a breach in immune tolerance could be shared by CNS autoantibody-mediated diseases, resulting in the sequential occurrence of NMO and NMDA receptor encephalitis and possibly explaining the co-occurrence of these autoantibodies in our patient. An immunodominant AQP4 peptide recognized by T cells in patients with NMO has a high degree of homology to an ABC transporter from Clostridium species, suggesting that molecular mimicry might be involved in NMO pathogenesis. 6 Colonization of Clostridium or other bacterial species in the gut could promote immune responses that cross-react with the AQP4 and NMDA receptor proteins. Alternately, we speculate that NMO-related inflammation could "reveal" CNS antigens to the immune system, resulting in a secondary inflammatory response similar to that proposed for HSV and NMDA There are scattered activated microglia with elongated comma-shaped nuclei (

[8] Immune inflammatory regulation in Anti-NMDAR encephalitis: insights from transcriptome analysis

  • Authors: Shan Qiao, Jia Wang, Shanchao Zhang, Aihua Wang, Hai-yun Li et al.
  • Year: 2025
  • Venue: Frontiers in Neurology
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/cd426a7d25d9ae6141d60961d06697e6de2154d5
  • DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1568274
  • PMID: 40417115
  • PMCID: 12098042
  • Citations: 2
  • Summary: Background Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a critical neurological disorder mediated by autoimmune mechanisms, Previous literature suggests that immune inflammatory responses may be involved in the progression of anti NMDAR encephalitis, but its molecular regulatory mechanisms still remain uncertain. We aimed to identify transcriptome-wide landscape of mRNAs and explore the potential pathogenesis for anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cell...
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.464) > Background Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a critical neurological disorder mediated by autoimmune mechanisms, Previous literature suggests that immune inflammatory responses may be involved in the progression of anti NMDAR encephalitis, but its molecular regulatory mechanisms still remain uncertain. We aimed to identify transcriptome-wide landscape of mRNAs and explore the potential pathogenesis for anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from six patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and six controls for RNA extraction and library creation. The Illumina HiSeq platform was used to do transcriptome sequencing. We utilized R software to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and performed a functional enrichment analysis. Furthermore, random forest (RF) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) were employed to screen for and identify anti-NMDAR encephalitis diagnostic signatures. To verify the findings, we employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to assess the diagnostic values. We evaluated the inflammatory state of anti-NMDAR encephalitis using cell-type identification by computing the relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) and investigated the relationship between diagnostic biomarkers and immune cell subsets. Results 899 DEGs were identified (568 upregulated and 331 downregulated), of which 78 were immune-related genes. The DEGs were found to be considerably enriched in immunological inflammation-related pathways, according to the functional enrichment analysis. Insulin-like factor 3 [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.917] and tumor protein translationally controlled regulator 1 (AUC = 0.944) were considered potential diagnostic indicator candidates of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, with statistically significant variations in expression. An immune cell analysis of immune cell proportions suggests that monocytes, CD8+ T cells, and T regulatory cells may all be involved in the development of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Conclusions Transcriptome analysis reveals significant activation of peripheral immune-inflammatory pathways in anti-NMDAR encephalitis. INSL3 and TPT1 may

[9] The neuroinflammation collection: a vision for expanding neuro-immune crosstalk in Brain

  • Authors: S. Irani, A. Nath, F. Zipp
  • Year: 2021
  • Venue: Brain
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/76ab9e302f17b1934b7a7e7440cc35418a9c1f5b
  • DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab187
  • PMID: 33983376
  • PMCID: 8370408
  • Citations: 10
  • Summary: A vision is offered of how anticipated developments in neuroinflammation are likely to impact the understanding of key elements of neurology, and lead to new treatments as well as some of the most exciting areas within this rapidly expanding, clinically relevant and highly translational field.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.461) > The autoantibody-mediated diseases of the nervous system provide perhaps the most direct examples to connect an identified pathogenic agent with the corresponding disease process. In these conditions-ranging from myasthenia gravis and neuromyelitis optica to autoimmune encephalitis-autoantibodies target extracellular domains of neuroglial proteins and patients often show highly distinctive, even unique, clinical features. In autoimmune encephalitis, these include faciobrachial dystonic seizures and multiple frequent focal seizure semiologies in patients with leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) antibodies, 1 while a stereotyped multistage progression of inherently complex clinical features characterizes the phenotype of individuals with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibody encephalitis. 2,3 In these patients, the highly characteristic nature of these-and other-clinical features provides persuasive evidence of a distinctive human pathology directly mediated by these antibodies. Further to these clinical observations, experimental data confirm these autoantibodies fulfil modified Koch's postulates for pathogenicity, both in vitro and in animal models. 4,5 Hence, a logical prediction is that inhibiting their end-target effects will reverse symptoms in patients. > To test this hypothesis at the molecular level, an allosteric modulator of the NMDAR-which crosses the blood-brain barrier-was applied to culture and in vivo model systems prior to application of patient NMDAR antibodies. 6 Administration of this drug to mice subsequently receiving a cerebroventricular transfer of NMDAR antibodies prevented all the antibody-mediated effects: memory alterations, a spatial redistribution of NMDARs and the abrogation of long-term potentiation. Yet, intriguingly, this drug did not fully abrogate NMDAR internalization, which is often characterized as the dominant mechanism of action of the human autoantibodies. However, this study lacked a key experiment: namely the application of the drug after the induction of antibodymediated pathology. Hence, its clinical relevance as a symptomatic therapy, alongside the observationally established value of immunotherapies, remains a key area for future work.

[10] Autoantibodies detection in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis

  • Authors: Jiayu Li, Qi Wang, Honghao Wang
  • Year: 2021
  • Venue: Annals of Translational Medicine
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/47c5272562cd73f4b7e9d0f24fc328e115f23a5a
  • DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-2279
  • PMID: 37090042
  • PMCID: 10116423
  • Citations: 7
  • Summary: It’s found that IHC got a higher positive rate than CBA in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when screening potential AE, while CBA was more specific.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.457) > Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) covers a group of central nervous system diseases with clinical manifestations as neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms. AE is severe but treatable. It has gained increasing attention currently. The body's immune function can be disturbed under certain conditions such as tumor and infection, producing antibodies directed against neuronal autoantigens. Antineuronal antibodies include antibodies against cell surface, synaptic and intraneuronal antigens (1,2). Antibodies against cell surface antigens can directly influence the neurotransmission and excitability by targeting molecules including encephalitis: anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors via changing the function of the target protein (2,3). Antibodies may act as either agonist or antagonist on receptors (4), interfere with adjacent molecular interactions or reduce the expression of receptors on cell surface by altering the localization of membrane receptors or causing receptor internalization (i.e., anti-NMDAR antibodies) (5,6). Moreover, they can Review Article lead to the opening of transmembrane ion channels or cell death because of complement deposition and activation of natural killer cells. Antibodies against synaptic antigens are believed to alter the release or responsiveness of neurotransmitters (3). In contrast, antibodies against intraneuronal antigens (i.e., anti-Hu, anti-Yo and anti-Ma) are most likely not directly pathogenic, probably an epiphenomenon of T-cell-mediated immune response and classified as paraneoplastic neurological syndromerelated onconeural antibodies (7,8). Further discoveries showed that these antibodies caused cellular dysfunction or injury through multiple effector mechanisms. Intracellular antigens were not accessible to immune attack in situ; but upregulated major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in a pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu after proteasomal degradation, and then they were accessible to peptide-specific cytotoxic T cells (3).

[11] Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis: A Narrative Review

  • Authors: V. Pădureanu, D. Dop, R. Pădureanu, D. Pîrșcoveanu, Gabriela Olaru et al.
  • Year: 2025
  • Venue: Brain Sciences
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/79ec541ca01050ca7b270282c4e37df10cf3c334
  • DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15050518
  • PMID: 40426689
  • PMCID: 12110449
  • Citations: 9
  • Influential citations: 2
  • Summary: Given its high prevalence, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis should be included in the differential diagnosis in routine psychiatric treatment, and an overview of the research on the condition is provided.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.454) > In light of this, the HLA genetic factors are the autoimmunity core, but the non-HLA genetic factor might influence the genetic risk and therapeutic response. To date, the non-HLA gene's role in anti-NMDAR encephalitis is less characterized. For the first time, recent studies on autoimmune encephalitis genetics report that the non-HLA gene is involved in the diseases' molecular mechanism. Gene mutation, such as single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), can increase the risk of developing anti-NMDAR encephalitis. A genome-wide association study (GWAS), aimed at identifying genetic risk factors for anti-NMDA receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, performed colocalization and gene variant analysis to identify causal genes or gene variants [30]. These variants and genes did not belong to the HLA system. In this genomics study, performed by Tietz and colleagues, two significant genetic loci located on chromosomes 15 and 11 were identified as potential risk factors for anti-NMDAR encephalitis (Table 1). Other genes related to immune system checkpoints or the cytokine signaling pathway which involve BBB could be key factors in anti-NMDAR encephalitis. The lysosomal acid phosphatase 2 (ACP2) gene encodes an enzyme from the lysosomal membrane which hydrolyzes orthophosphoric monoesters to alcohol and phosphate. About 37 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) of this gene are reported according to clinvar, but no clear pathological association with immune response was found [30]. ACP2 is involved in the interaction between the host and pathogens, such as viruses [36]. The ACP2 gene involved in immune regulation and the inflammatory signaling pathway may influence antigen processing and potentiate autoantigen production. The mutation of the ACP2 gene may be used in personalized therapies and can sustain the potential benefit of antiinflammatory therapy.

[12] Progress in the preparation of an active immunization model of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis in animals

  • Authors: Kuikui Zeng, Yuting Liu, Sai Yang, Lingjuan Liu
  • Year: 2025
  • Venue: Frontiers in Immunology
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d78fd3dcf8563d324f99f53d2dc4e26157a4c3f4
  • DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1585353
  • PMID: 41451196
  • PMCID: 12728017
  • Summary: This review aims to systematically classify existing active immunization models of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, with detailed discussion on their establishment protocols, respective advantages, current applications, and future prospects.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.452) > Usually, antibody-mediated encephalitides are typically characterized by concomitant neuroinflammation and seizure activity. Unlike other neurological disorders or experimental models, these conditions provide direct evidence for synaptic dysfunction and neuronal hyperexcitability through their welldefined mechanisms involving specific antibody binding to synaptic receptors and proteins (41). The GluN1 peptide-induced NMDAR encephalitis model exhibits significant limitations: while linear peptides can directly activate B cells and generate high-titer antibodies, their inability to engage T cell assistance and relevant inflammatory signaling pathways prevents complete recapitulation of human disease pathology. This model fails to reproduce hallmark clinical manifestations of anti-NMDAR encephalitis (including movement disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and spontaneous seizures), while demonstrating marked deficiencies in investigating critical aspects such as disease pathogenesis, inflammatory cytokine networks, and immune cell interactions. These shortcomings substantially constrain the model's utility for comprehensive mechanistic studies of NMDAR encephalitis. > HSV infection of the central nervous system represents a significant trigger for anti-neuronal autoimmunity (42). Current scholarship predominantly supports the view that HSV infection serves as an indirect precipitating factor for anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which may explain the relative scarcity of such models in research. The pathogenic mechanism is not attributable to direct viral neurotoxicity, but rather stems from secondary immune-mediated damage following viral infection (35,43). This pathophysiological process involves three key interrelated mechanisms: First, molecular mimicry occurs between HSV-1 proteins (e.g., glycoprotein B) and human synaptic proteins (e.g., NMDA receptors), leading to cross-reactive autoantibody production (44). Second, viral PAMPs are recognized by microglial TLR3 receptors, triggering innate immune responses characterized by excessive IFN and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6, TNF-a) release, blood-brain barrier disruption, and CD8+ T cell infiltration (45).

[13] Immuno-psychiatry: an agenda for clinical practice and innovative research

  • Authors: M. Leboyer, M. Berk, R. Yolken, R. Tamouza, D. Kupfer et al.
  • Year: 2016
  • Venue: BMC Medicine
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/9b33161ac3fa0889a188af2fa167cf846ceb2553
  • DOI: 10.1186/s12916-016-0712-5
  • PMID: 27788673
  • PMCID: 5084344
  • Citations: 60
  • Influential citations: 2
  • Summary: The development of bio-signatures will allow clinicians to tailor interventions to the abovementioned biomarker subtypes – a major translational goal for research in this field.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.423) > extracted from the above emerging models in derivation studies could serve to design new "educated chips" that will contain immune, neurobiological and genetic markers defining subtypes of patients that could be further refined in validation studies (Fig. 1). > The use of animal models could facilitate exploration of in-depth temporal and molecular pathways linking central and peripheral dysfunctions in psychiatric disorders. For instance, since the discovery that some NMDA receptor (NMDAR) blockers induce schizophrenia-like psychosis, reproducing both positive and negative symptoms, the NMDA glutamatergic model of psychosis and schizophrenia has been increasingly accepted as part of the disease's etiopathology [40]. The dysfunction of NMDAR signalling might originate, among other pathways, from genetic alteration, autoantibodies directed against extracellular epitopes [41][42][43][44][45][46], and/or altered levels of endogenous agonists/antagonists (kynurenine metabolites) [47]. Of note, the recent discovery that autoantibodies against extracellular epitopes of the NMDAR produce major psychosis [41][42][43][44][45][46] provides a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of psychotic disorders at the molecular, cellular and brain imaging levels. For instance, autoantibodies from anti-NMDA encephalitis patients altered NMDAR signalling by preventing molecular interaction and altering membrane trafficking of NMDAR, although without modulating the function of the NMDAR channel [43]. Thus, NMDAR dysfunction-induced psychosis could originate from a blockade of the channel (e.g. phencyclidine) or an altered trafficking of the receptor (e.g. autoantibodies). Future investigations in various psychotic disorders will thus shed new light on the mechanisms underlying these disorders and pave the way for new, innovative therapeutical strategies to restore proper NMDAR signaling. > Could a common dysfunction be at the origin of peripheral disorders? Theoretically, yes. Indeed, it is often forgotten that NMDAR is not only expressed in brain cells but also in many other organs and cell types; for example, NMDAR is expressed in pancreatic islets and in insulin-secreting beta cells whose functional

[14] Pediatric anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis in southern China: Analysis of 111 cases.

  • Authors: Xiaojing Li, C. Hou, Wen-lin Wu, Hui-ci Liang, Ke-lu Zheng et al.
  • Year: 2021
  • Venue: Journal of neuroimmunology
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/1906f55fc6403a746429f3c2c2be5ee26c468cfe
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577479
  • PMID: 33486307
  • Citations: 19
  • Summary: Of pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis in southern China: median onset age around 7 years; girls more common; boys might have poor outcome than girls; seizure or movement disorder respectively being most common onset or course symptom; a few overlapped with other neuronal autoantibodies; rare combined with tumor.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.419) > Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a neuroinflammatory disease mainly mediated by autoantibodies against the GluN1 subunit of the receptor (Dalmau, 2016). Since it was first reported in 2007, a series of studies have been conducted on this disease during these years (Dalmau et al. , 2007, Gurrera, 2019. With regards to clinical evidence of inflammation, there are two stages. In the first stage (which has a duration of around 3 months or longer), patients develop severe symptoms (such as psychosis, movement disorders, seizures, dysautonomia, and coma) commonly accompanied by transient magnetic resonance image (MRI) abnormalities or pleocytosis. The second stage (which has a duration of around 6 months or longer) corresponds to the process of recovery. Patients' antibodies crosslink the NMDARs, altering their surface dynamics and interaction with other synaptic proteins, and causing their internalization along with severe impairment of synaptic plasticity and NMDAR network function. The clinical features in patients and animal models resemble those caused by genetic or pharmacological attenuation of NMDAR function (Dalmau, 2016, Lynch et al. , 2018. And regional clinical studies of anti-NMDAR encephalitis may promote the research on its mechanism and enrich the clinical phenotypes. However, regional studies with large samples of children are still limited. > In current study, we reported the clinical features of children recently diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in a national regional tertiary medical center from southern China.

[15] Precision Therapeutics in Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome: Targeting Molecular Pathophysiology in a Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

  • Authors: Debopam Samanta
  • Year: 2025
  • Venue: Children
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/455479c1bfbea7b90b73c109228f67c813d13888
  • DOI: 10.3390/children12040481
  • PMID: 40310132
  • PMCID: 12025602
  • Citations: 19
  • Influential citations: 1
  • Summary: A narrative review explores precision therapeutic strategies for LGS based on molecular pathophysiology, including channelopathies, receptor and ligand dysfunction, receptor and ligand dysfunction, cell signaling abnormalities, cell signaling abnormalities, synaptopathies, and the repurposing of existing medications with mechanism-specific effects.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.408) > A key advantage of disease-modifying therapies is their potential to target pathogenic mechanisms early in the disease course, potentially preventing the progression of some infantile epileptic encephalopathies to LGS. > This narrative review explores precision therapeutic strategies based on specific monogenic causes and disease mechanisms relevant to LGS. A comprehensive literature search (PubMed, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, conference abstracts from the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society, and gray literature) was conducted through 19 February 2025 to identify established ASMs, repurposed and novel drugs, as well as various gene therapy approaches with potential relevance to LGS. Given that over 900 monogenic causes of DEEs have been identified-implicating diverse cellular components such as ion channels, receptors, synaptic proteins, signaling pathways, metabolic processes, and epigenetic regulators-this review discusses current and emerging precision therapeutics based on shared molecular mechanisms and the pathophysiology of select genes associated with LGS [17] (Table 1).

[16] Molecular Pathogenesis of Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis

  • Authors: Hao Ding, Z. Jian, C. Stary, W. Yi, Xiaoxing Xiong
  • Year: 2015
  • Venue: BioMed Research International
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/653de9aedde40b75ffec353e4b4e33f0826d329f
  • DOI: 10.1155/2015/643409
  • PMID: 26221602
  • PMCID: 4499418
  • Citations: 21
  • Influential citations: 2
  • Summary: This review will provide a summary of the current literature on anti-NMDAR encephalitis, including the immunologic molecular mechanisms contributing to disease progression, and focus on the effect of anti- NMDAR on GluN2-N MDAR expression and the molecular transformation of B and T leukocytes in the loss of self-tolerance.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.406) > Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is a recently identified autoimmune disease, described by an immune-mediated loss of NMDA glutamate receptors, resulting in progressive mental deterioration. To date, literature on anti-NMDAR encephalitis has been largely clinically oriented, including descriptions of the clinical presentation and course, diagnostic methods, and potential clinical treatments. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to the complex immunological cellular transformation that is associated with the progression of anti-NMDAR encephalitis remain to be adequately explored. This review will provide a summary of the current literature on anti-NMDAR encephalitis, including the immunologic molecular mechanisms contributing to disease progression. In particular this review will focus on the effect of anti-NMDAR on GluN2-NMDAR expression and the molecular transformation of B and T leukocytes in the loss of self-tolerance. Further research on the immunologic mechanisms contributing to anti-NMDAR encephalitis may provide an avenue for future novel diagnostic approaches, such as immunologic surveillance, as well as new therapeutic strategies for this recently identified autoimmune disease.

[17] Atypical Autoimmune Encephalitis: Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Insights From a Case Series

  • Authors: Thummalagunta Prathyusha, G. Ambati, Abhijathya Chinta, P. Gowda, C. Bole
  • Year: 2025
  • Venue: Cureus
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/4ec40ecc7baa4e8bade8692b965099244d3c5396
  • DOI: 10.7759/cureus.82384
  • PMID: 40385909
  • PMCID: 12083851
  • Citations: 1
  • Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of clinical presentations, treatment approaches, and patient outcomes of patients diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.403) > CSF analysis was pivotal in confirming the diagnosis. In Case 3, viral encephalitis was ruled out, reinforcing the necessity of antibody testing in suspected autoimmune encephalitis and demonstrating positivity to anti-NMDA receptor antibodies, aligning with findings that the sensitivity of NMDA receptor antibody testing is higher in CSF compared to serum, as reported by Wang et al. [13]. Early and aggressive immunotherapy, including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasma exchange, and rituximab, was employed in all cases, leading to varying clinical improvement. However, treatment was complicated in Case 2, which developed drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and hepatitis, underscoring the risks of immunomodulatory therapy, with recurrent infections and a cardiac arrest further complicating management. > Studies indicate that first-line treatments, such as corticosteroids, IVIG, and plasma exchange, result in clinical improvement in approximately 50% of cases, with second-line agents such as rituximab and cyclophosphamide being required in refractory cases. The prognosis is highly dependent on early diagnosis and intervention, with up to 80% of patients achieving significant recovery if treated early, whereas delayed treatment is associated with worse neurological outcomes and prolonged hospital stays. > Challenges in management included pre-existing conditions such as obesity and obstructive sleep apnea in Case 1. Prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in Cases 1 and 2 highlighted the severity of the disease, and the prolonged course of recovery with residual motor and speech impairments persisted, necessitating long-term rehabilitation. Case 3 demonstrated the best outcome, with seizure-free status and no significant residual deficits, as described by Nosadini et al., who reported symptom-free disease in follow-up [14]. > Given the spectrum of complications, a multidisciplinary approach involving neurology, psychiatry, critical care, and rehabilitation specialists is crucial to optimize patient outcomes. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of anti-NMDA and anti-MOG antibody positivity in Case 3 raises important questions about underlying immune mechanisms.

[18] Common immunopathogenesis of central nervous system diseases: the protein-homeostasis-system hypothesis

  • Authors: Kyung-Yil Lee
  • Year: 2022
  • Venue: Cell & Bioscience
  • URL: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/2984270ae67451b93007040848d9694d19714c9f
  • DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00920-5
  • PMID: 36384812
  • PMCID: 9668226
  • Citations: 9
  • Influential citations: 1
  • Summary: This article proposes a common immunopathogenesis of CNS diseases, including prion diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and genetic diseases, through the PHS hypothesis, which proposes that the immune systems in the host control those substances according to the size and biochemical properties of the substances.
  • Evidence snippets:
  • Snippet 1 (score: 0.401) > There are hundreds of genetic diseases of the CNS. The defective proteins in genetic disorders include structural proteins for neurotransmitter receptors and other receptors or ion channels on CNS cells, and proteins involved in enzymatic process, metabolism (transport), or signal transduction pathways in various communication systems [98]. Because a discussion of each genetic disease is beyond the scope of this review, only crucial points about the pathogenesis of genetic diseases are discussed. Singlegene defect diseases of the CNS can be caused by a defective product from a gene, i.e., a protein deficiency or a malfunctioning protein. In general, autosomal dominant genetic diseases are caused by structural protein defects, and autosomal recessive diseases are caused by defects in enzymatic proteins. However, certain genetic diseases that involve an enzymatic or multifunctional protein defect can induce structural cell injury during the natural course of the illness. > Patients with genetic diseases, including HD, familial JCD, GSS, and the genetic forms of AD and PD, show different clinical manifestations from other affected people in their family, including the time of onset of neurological symptoms, speed of progression of the disease, and prognosis, suggesting that phenotypes can vary even when the genotypes are identical. Likewise, similar phenotypes of CNS symptoms can be found in different genetic diseases. In genetic animal models, the phenotypes of single gene knockout can vary by strain in mice, and the clinical manifestations of a gene defect can differ between mice and humans, and mice null for some genes have also no observable phenotypic abnormalities compared with controls [99]. These findings suggest that default of a protein might be at least partly controlled by individual's control systems and that there might exist a similar immune/repair system against cell injury in genetic diseases. > The pathophysiology of most genetic diseases in the CNS is complex because any affected gene is associated with numerous proteins and their corresponding activations of genes and epigenetic changes that occur during disease processes. Thus, the use of a genetic marker for diagnosing or predicting a prognosis remains impractical in clinical settings [100].

Notes

  • This provider combines search_papers_by_relevance with snippet_search.
  • No synthesis or second-stage model call is performed.
Falcon
Anti‑NMDA Receptor Encephalitis (Autoimmune) — Comprehensive Disease Characteristics Report
Edison Scientific Literature 46 citations 2026-05-16T00:20:06.200956

Anti‑NMDA Receptor Encephalitis (Autoimmune) — Comprehensive Disease Characteristics Report

1. Disease Information

Overview / definition

Anti‑N‑methyl‑D‑aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a subacute, rapidly progressive autoimmune encephalitis characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms (often prominent), seizures, movement disorders/dyskinesias, altered consciousness, and autonomic/respiratory dysfunction, associated with IgG autoantibodies targeting the GluN1 (NR1) subunit of the NMDAR and typically detected most reliably in CSF (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, gong2021longtermfunctionaloutcomes pages 1-2).

Key identifiers

  • MONDO: MONDO_0021081 (“anti‑NMDA receptor encephalitis”) (OpenTargets Search: Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis).
  • Orphanet / MeSH / OMIM / ICD‑10/ICD‑11: Not retrieved in the available tool context; therefore not reported here.

Synonyms / alternative names (used in evidence base)

  • Anti‑NMDAR encephalitis; anti‑NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis; NMDAR encephalitis; NMDARE (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, dumez2024specificclinicaland pages 1-2, gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).

Evidence source types

This report integrates (i) human cohort/registry studies and systematic reviews, (ii) mechanistic in vitro and passive‑transfer animal model studies, and (iii) clinical trial registry information (ClinicalTrials.gov) (gong2021longtermfunctionaloutcomes pages 1-2, alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2, dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9, NCT03274375 chunk 1).

2. Etiology

Primary causal factors / triggers (current understanding)

Anti‑NMDAR encephalitis is primarily antibody‑mediated and frequently linked to antigenic triggers, particularly: - Ovarian teratoma (key paraneoplastic trigger in subsets of patients) (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6, alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2). - Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) as a post‑infectious trigger for secondary anti‑NMDAR encephalitis (dumez2024specificclinicaland pages 1-2, alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).

Risk factors (human clinical/epidemiologic)

  • Sex and age: young adults and female predominance are common in many cohorts (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2).
  • Race/ethnicity disparities (US population-based data): In Kaiser Permanente Southern California (2011–2022; >10 million person‑years), standardized incidence per 1 million person‑years was higher in Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Island individuals than in White individuals (Black 2.94 vs White 0.40) (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).

Environmental / spatial & climatic factors

A 2023 systematic review/meta‑analysis reported that incidence estimates varied across regions and were associated with geography/climate: - higher reported incidence in Oceania (0.2/100,000 person‑years) and South America (0.16/100,000 person‑years) than Europe/North America (0.06/100,000 person‑years) (alentorn2023spatialandecological pages 1-2). - a strong negative correlation with latitude (Pearson’s R = −0.88) and seasonal peaks during warm months; extreme heat in France associated with incidence (p = 0.03) (alentorn2023spatialandecological pages 1-2).

Protective factors / gene–environment interactions

No protective factors or explicit gene–environment interaction data were retrieved in the current tool context.

3. Phenotypes

Core phenotype domains (with selected frequencies)

Common clinical manifestations include psychiatric/behavioral symptoms, seizures, movement disorders/dyskinesias, speech dysfunction, decreased consciousness, autonomic instability, and central hypoventilation (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2).

Selected quantitative phenotype frequencies from cohorts: - Psychosis/behavioral symptoms: 82.7% psychosis in a prospective China cohort (n=220, 2011–2017) (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2); behavioral changes 74.5% in an East China cohort (n=106) (wang2020influencingelectroclinicalfeatures pages 1-2). - Seizures: 80.9% in the prospective China cohort (n=220) (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2); 67% in the East China cohort (n=106), with 54.9% focal among those with seizures (wang2020influencingelectroclinicalfeatures pages 1-2). - Prodrome: a prodromal phase occurs in 40–70% of patients (review synthesis) (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).

Age-related clinical patterning (review synthesis): teenagers/adults commonly develop psychiatric/behavioral symptoms early (~90%), whereas young children more often present with neurologic features such as seizures/abnormal movements rather than frank psychiatric syndromes (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).

Quality of life and long-term functional/cognitive impacts

A 2024 nationwide cohort study of 92 patients reported that although most had “favorable” functional outcome by mRS, long-term deficits were common: - beyond 36 months, 34% had persistent cognitive impairment (z < −1.5 SD) and 65% scored below average in ≥1 domain; memory and language were most affected (brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2). - 30% did not resume school/work and 18% needed adjustments; patient‑reported outcomes showed reduced emotional well‑being, social functioning, energy, and quality of life compared to norms (brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2).

Suggested HPO terms (examples; see ontology table)

Examples include Seizure (HP:0001250), Psychiatric symptoms (HP:0000708), Dyskinesia (HP:0100660), Autonomic dysfunction (HP:0002271), Central hypoventilation (HP:0007110), Memory impairment (HP:0002354), Language impairment (HP:0002465) (artifact-01).

4. Genetic/Molecular Information

Causal genes

Anti‑NMDAR encephalitis is not typically a Mendelian monogenic disorder; it is defined by autoantibodies to the NMDAR (GluN1 subunit) rather than pathogenic variants in a causal gene (balu2019ascorethat pages 1-2, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10).

Target antigen and epitope information

  • Structural epitope mapping indicates most autoantibodies target a conformational epitope in the amino‑terminal domain (ATD) of GluN1, including residues N368/G369; point mutations at these residues abolish binding (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10).

Modifier genes / protective variants / allele frequencies

Not retrieved in the available tool context.

5. Environmental Information

Infectious triggers

  • HSE is a recognized trigger; in a post‑HSE cohort, median latency from HSE to anti‑NMDAR encephalitis was 30 days (dumez2024specificclinicaland pages 1-2).

Climate/ecological signals (population level)

Incidence appears associated with geographic/climatic variables including latitude, higher temperatures, and UV exposure in a systematic review/meta‑analysis (alentorn2023spatialandecological pages 1-2).

Lifestyle/toxin exposures were not retrieved.

6. Mechanism / Pathophysiology

Causal chain (current consensus)

1) Trigger/antigen exposure (e.g., ovarian teratoma or post‑HSV inflammation) can initiate/boost autoreactive B‑cell responses (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10). 2) Autoreactive B cells/plasma cells generate IgG targeting extracellular NMDAR epitopes; intrathecal synthesis is supported by cloning of recombinant antibodies from CSF cells and by intrathecal immune activity models (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10). 3) Antibodies bind cell-surface NMDAR and induce receptor crosslinking and internalization, reducing surface and synaptic receptor density, producing reversible synaptic dysfunction (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 34-35, dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9). 4) Network-level consequences include impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity (LTP) and cognitive/behavioral phenotypes, consistent with functional NMDAR hypofunction (dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9, dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 2-3).

Key mechanistic findings (authoritative sources)

  • Crosslinking-dependent internalization: internalization is not blocked by NMDA receptor antagonism and is not reproduced by Fab fragments that cannot crosslink, implicating crosslinking as a mechanism (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 34-35).
  • Internalization kinetics and trafficking: internalization begins within ~2 hours and peaks by ~12 hours; internalized receptors traffic preferentially to Rab11-positive recycling endosomes more than lysosomes, with evidence of enhanced degradation (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 34-35).
  • Passive-transfer model reversibility and EphB2 pathway modulation: chronic infusion of patient CSF causes progressive antibody binding (maximal ~day 18), synaptic NMDAR loss, impaired LTP, and memory impairment, with reversibility after cessation; co-infusion of soluble ephrin‑B2 prevents pathogenic effects, implicating NMDAR–EphB2 synaptic interactions (dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38).

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) and immune trafficking

BBB dysfunction is proposed as enabling movement of antibodies and immune cells into the CNS. The BBB is described as “crucial for antibodies and immune cells to enter or exit the CNS,” with evidence supporting intrathecal B-cell involvement and cytokine signals consistent with BBB involvement (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).

Suggested GO biological process / CL cell type terms

Examples include receptor internalization (GO:0031623), regulation of synaptic plasticity (GO:0048167), B cell mediated immunity (GO:0019724), immunoglobulin production (GO:0002377), and cell types B cell (CL:0000236) and plasma cell (CL:0000786) (artifact-01).

7. Anatomical Structures Affected

Organ/system level

  • Primary: central nervous system (brain) (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
  • Associated trigger sites: ovary (ovarian teratoma) (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6).

Tissue/cell level

  • Neuronal synapses are directly affected through loss of synaptic NMDAR clusters (dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38).
  • Immune cell involvement includes intrathecal B cells/plasma cells (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38, gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).

8. Temporal Development

Onset pattern

Typically subacute (rapid progression) with prodrome in a substantial fraction (40–70%) (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5). Diagnostic criteria frameworks emphasize symptom accumulation within weeks and rapid onset within <3 months (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).

Post‑infectious timing

In post‑HSE anti‑NMDAR encephalitis, median time between HSE and NMDARE onset was 30 days (21–46) (dumez2024specificclinicaland pages 1-2).

Recovery trajectory

Cognitive recovery may continue for years; in one nationwide cohort, improvements continued up to 36 months, with persistent impairments common beyond 36 months (brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2).

9. Inheritance and Population

Epidemiology (recent quantitative data)

A compact table of recent quantitative incidence/outcomes is provided below.

Study (first author year, journal) Design/setting N Key population notes Incidence/prevalence (with units) Tumor frequency Relapse frequency Mortality/fatality Key prognostic factors/notes URL/DOI
Nguyen 2023, Int J Gen Med Review summarizing epidemiology and management NR Median age 21; 81% female in summarized data Olmsted County incidence 0.4/100,000 (1995–2005) rising to 1.2/100,000 (2006–2015); autoimmune encephalitis prevalence 13.7/100,000 in 2014; anti-NMDAR prevalence 0.6/100,000 NR in excerpt 10–30% of cases, mostly within first 2 years NR CSF antibody testing more sensitive/specific than serum; all patients should be screened at least once for neoplasm (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S397429
Alsalek 2024, Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm Retrospective population-based cohort, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 2011–2022 70 Median age at onset 23.7 years; 64% female; >10 million person-years Age- and sex-standardized incidence per 1 million person-years: Black 2.94 (95% CI 1.27–4.61), Hispanic 2.17 (1.51–2.83), Asian/Pacific Islander 2.02 (0.77–3.28), White 0.40 (0.08–0.72) Ovarian teratomas in 58.3% of Black female individuals; 21 female patients overall had ovarian teratoma NR NR CSF pleocytosis 70%, abnormal EEG 73%, abnormal MRI 40%; median time symptom onset to diagnosis 17 days; most patients (61.4%) had no identifiable trigger (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000200255
Alentorn 2023, Biomedicines Systematic review/meta-analysis of incidence studies NR Higher incidence reported in southern hemisphere regions; warm-month peak Oceania 0.2/100,000 person-years; South America 0.16/100,000 person-years; Europe/North America 0.06/100,000 person-years About half of cases associated with ovarian teratoma NR NR Strong negative correlation with latitude (Pearson R = −0.88); positive association with extreme heat in France (p = 0.03) (alentorn2023spatialandecological pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061525
Dumez 2024, J Neurol Retrospective comparative cohort of post-HSE anti-NMDAR encephalitis 13 post-HSE cases among 375 NMDARE patients Median age 19 years; 31% children <4 years; 54% male; median latency 30 days after HSE HSE incidence noted as 2–4 per million/year NR NR NR Worse 12-month mRS than regular NMDARE; behavioral changes 92%, movement disorders 62%, dysautonomia 54%; extensive MRI lesions 100% vs 48% and bilateral DWI abnormalities 90% vs 29% versus regular HSE comparators (dumez2024specificclinicaland pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-024-12615-7
Xu 2020, Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm Single-center prospective cohort, China, 2011–2017 220 Acute onset with characteristic neuropsychiatric manifestations NR 19.5% had neoplasm; ovarian teratoma was 100% of tumors in females 17.3% during first 12 months 2.3% died within first 12 months 94.1% improved during first 12 months; 92.7% had favorable outcome (mRS ≤2) at 12 months; 99.5% received first-line therapy; 7.3% received second-line therapy (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000633
Gong 2021, Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm Prospective observational cohort, Western China 244 Median age 26; 52.45% female; median follow-up 40 months NR 15.57% had tumors 15.9%; 82.0% of first relapses within 24 months 6.96% fatality 84.8% improved within 4 weeks after immunotherapy; 80.7% and 85.7% had substantial recovery at 12 and 24 months; disturbance of consciousness in first month independently predicted poor outcome (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.27–6.65); female sex and delayed treatment linked to relapse (gong2021longtermfunctionaloutcomes pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000958
Balu 2019, Neurology Multicenter cohort developing prognostic score 382 Anti-GluN1 antibody-associated disease NR NR NR NR NEOS score predictors: ICU admission, treatment delay >4 weeks, lack of improvement within 4 weeks, abnormal MRI, CSF WBC >20 cells/μL; poor 1-year outcome ranged from 3% (0–1 points) to 69% (4–5 points) (balu2019ascorethat pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000006783
Brenner 2023, Neurology Retrospective biomarker study with healthy references 71 patients; 61 references 75% female; mean age 31.4 years; paired CSF available in 33 NR NR Reported 12% relapse within 2 years in background summary NR Serum NfL 19.5 pg/mL vs 6.4 pg/mL in references (p < 0.0001); CSF-serum NfL correlation R = 0.84; post-HSV patients 248.8 vs 14.1 pg/mL; association with 12-month mRS largely confounded by age (brenner2023predictivevalueof pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207221
Brenner 2024, Neurology Nationwide cross-sectional/prospective cohort 92 Mean age 29 ± 2 years; 77% female NR NR NR NR Recovery continued up to 36 months; beyond 36 months, 34% had persistent impairment and 65% scored below average in ≥1 cognitive domain; 91% had favorable mRS ≤2, yet 30% did not resume school/work and 18% needed adjustments (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2) https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210109

Table: This table compiles the main quantitative epidemiology, trigger, relapse, mortality, and prognosis figures for anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis from the retrieved evidence. It is useful as a compact reference for populating disease knowledge-base fields with explicitly supported numbers.

Key recent statistics include: - US population-based incidence disparities (2011–2022): standardized incidence per 1 million person‑years: Black 2.94; Hispanic 2.17; Asian/PI 2.02; White 0.40 (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2). - Climate/geography associations: incidence estimates and latitude/temperature associations in systematic review/meta-analysis (alentorn2023spatialandecological pages 1-2).

10. Diagnostics

Clinical criteria and practical diagnostic approach

Guidelines emphasize exclusion of infectious mimics (notably HSV encephalitis), with routine blood/CSF analysis and MRI often sufficient to evaluate alternative causes; importantly, HSV CSF PCR can be negative early and may need repeating if suspicion remains high (graus2016aclinicalapproach pages 6-7).

Anti‑NMDAR encephalitis can be approached with syndrome-based criteria for probable diagnosis and confirmed via antibody testing; supportive findings include abnormal EEG and CSF inflammatory markers (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).

Antibody testing: CSF vs serum

CSF testing is more sensitive and specific than serum. Review synthesis reports serum false-positives (up to 23.2%) and some serum reactivity in healthy controls; a substantial fraction of patients may be CSF‑only positive (reported 28–38.2% across series), supporting testing of both CSF and serum (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).

CSF abnormalities

Across cohorts, CSF pleocytosis has been reported in ~47–91% and oligoclonal bands in ~25–62.6% (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5). In the Kaiser Permanente cohort, CSF pleocytosis was present in 70% (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).

EEG and MRI

  • EEG is abnormal in most cases; one review notes EEG abnormality in 83.6% and describes extreme delta brush as a specific pattern, defined as “rhythmic delta activity at 1–3 Hz with bursts of rhythmic beta activity,” occurring in ~6.7% (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6).
  • Brain MRI can be normal in many patients; in Kaiser Permanente, abnormal MRI was 40% (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).

Real-world diagnostic implementation notes

  • “Treatment for suspected AE is often given empirically” while awaiting antibody results, reflecting real-world delays in definitive testing (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).

11. Outcome / Prognosis

Functional outcomes and relapse

  • Prospective China cohort (n=220): within 12 months, 94.1% improved; 2.3% died; 17.3% relapsed; 92.7% had favorable 12‑month mRS ≤2 (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2).
  • Prospective Western China cohort (n=244): fatality 6.96%; relapse 15.9% with most first relapses within 24 months; substantial recovery at 24 months 85.7% (gong2021longtermfunctionaloutcomes pages 1-2).

Prognostic scores

The NEOS score (anti‑NMDAR Encephalitis One‑Year Functional Status) uses five predictors: ICU admission, treatment delay >4 weeks, lack of improvement within 4 weeks, abnormal MRI, and CSF WBC >20 cells/µL; poor 1‑year outcome probability ranged from 3% (0–1 points) to 69% (4–5 points) (balu2019ascorethat pages 1-2).

Biomarkers (recent developments)

A 2023 Neurology study evaluated serum neurofilament light chain (NfL): serum NfL at diagnosis was higher in patients (mean 19.5 pg/mL) than references (mean 6.4 pg/mL, p<0.0001) and correlated with CSF NfL (R=0.84); post‑HSV cases had markedly higher levels (mean 248.8 vs 14.1 pg/mL) (brenner2023predictivevalueof pages 1-2).

12. Treatment

Current standard treatment strategy (real-world implementation)

A widely used approach is escalation of immunotherapy plus trigger removal (e.g., teratoma removal). First-line therapies include high-dose corticosteroids, IVIG, and plasma exchange; second-line therapies include rituximab or cyclophosphamide; refractory options may include bortezomib and tocilizumab (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).

A key implementation point is that decisions should be guided by clinical status rather than serial antibody titers: titers have limited correlation with severity and serum titers are unreliable; CSF titers may be more useful for relapse assessment when compared to earlier samples (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).

Visual evidence: treatment options table

Nguyen & Wang (2023) provide a detailed “Table 2 Summary of Treatment Options,” including regimens and adverse effects (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).

Suggested MAXO terms

Examples include corticosteroid therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, plasma exchange therapy, rituximab therapy, cyclophosphamide therapy, tumor resection, and tumor screening (artifact-01).

13. Prevention

No established primary prevention is supported in the retrieved evidence base. Practical prevention focuses on secondary/tertiary prevention: early recognition, prompt immunotherapy escalation when needed, and evaluation for/removal of triggering tumors to reduce morbidity and relapse risk (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7, xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2).

14. Other Species / Natural Disease

No naturally occurring disease in other species was retrieved in the available evidence context.

15. Model Organisms

Mechanistic work includes passive-transfer models (e.g., chronic infusion of patient CSF) demonstrating reversible synaptic receptor loss, impaired LTP, and behavioral deficits; these are frequently used to interrogate synaptic mechanisms and potential rescue strategies (e.g., ephrin‑B2) (dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38).

Recent developments and latest research highlights (2023–2024 prioritized)

  • Population incidence disparities (2024): large integrated health-system cohort quantified markedly higher incidence in Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Island populations vs White (alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).
  • Climate/geography signal (2023): systematic review/meta-analysis reported latitude/temperature/UV associations with incidence estimates across regions (alentorn2023spatialandecological pages 1-2).
  • BBB-focused synthesis (2023): emphasizes BBB’s role in immune-cell/antibody trafficking and intrathecal immune activation (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
  • Biomarker development (2023): serum NfL differences vs controls and HSV-associated elevations, with limitations due to age confounding and sampling timing (brenner2023predictivevalueof pages 1-2).
  • Long-term outcomes (2024): persistent cognitive and patient-reported deficits despite favorable mRS; substantial impacts on return-to-work/school (brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2).
  • Post‑HSE phenotype refinement (2024): HSE-triggered NMDARE shows distinctive clinical and MRI severity features and worse 12‑month outcomes (dumez2024specificclinicaland pages 1-2).

Current applications and real-world implementations

  • Diagnostic workflows commonly prioritize CSF antibody testing, EEG/MRI supportive evidence, and repeated HSV testing if early PCR negative and suspicion remains high (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, graus2016aclinicalapproach pages 6-7).
  • Tumor screening (especially ovarian teratoma evaluation in appropriate demographic groups) is recommended at least once; repeat imaging schedules for higher-risk groups have been proposed in reviews (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6).
  • Treatment escalation pathways (steroids/IVIG/PLEX → rituximab/cyclophosphamide → refractory biologics/proteasome inhibitors) are used clinically despite limited RCT evidence (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).

Clinical trials / registries (ClinicalTrials.gov)

  • NCT03274375 (Phase 2; recruiting; start 2021‑06‑23; est. completion 2026‑06): immunoadsorption sessions + rituximab in severe pediatric disease (NCT03274375 chunk 1).
  • NCT06183788 (AMENDS) (recruiting; start 2023‑01‑16): remote cognitive rehabilitation and biomarker/mechanism characterization in post‑acute stage (NCT06183788 chunk 1).
  • NCT06023160 (NEOSII) (observational; 714 participants): develop NEOS2 score for outcome and first-line response prediction (NCT06023160 chunk 1).
  • NCT02559089 and NCT02443350 (China/Beijing registries; ~400 enrollment each): clinical registries to build databases and evaluate outcomes (e.g., death endpoints) (NCT02559089 chunk 1, NCT02443350 chunk 1).
  • NCT04339127 (retrospective; ~12 participants): post‑herpetic anti‑NMDAR encephalitis characterization (NCT04339127 chunk 1).

Ontology mapping artifact

Category Suggested ontology Term label Term ID Evidence-supported rationale
Disease MONDO anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis MONDO_0021081 OpenTargets identifies the disease as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with MONDO_0021081, matching the requested disease concept (OpenTargets Search: Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis).
Anatomy UBERON brain UBERON:0000955 Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is a CNS autoimmune encephalitis with neuropsychiatric, seizure, and cognitive manifestations indicating primary brain involvement (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
Anatomy UBERON hippocampus UBERON:0001954 Mechanistic studies describe impaired hippocampal synaptic activity/plasticity and hippocampal binding of patient antibodies, supporting hippocampal involvement (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2, dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9).
Anatomy UBERON cerebrospinal fluid UBERON:0001359 CSF is the preferred compartment for antibody detection and frequently shows pleocytosis or oligoclonal bands in this disease (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6).
Anatomy UBERON blood-brain barrier UBERON:0013702 BBB dysfunction is implicated because the BBB is described as crucial for antibody and immune-cell trafficking into and out of the CNS (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
Anatomy UBERON ovary UBERON:0000992 Ovarian teratoma is the major tumor trigger, especially in female patients, supporting ovary as a key associated anatomical site (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6, alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).
Cell type CL B cell CL:0000236 CNS B-cell expansion and intrathecal antibody production are described in anti-NMDAR encephalitis, making B cells a central disease-relevant cell type (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10).
Cell type CL plasma cell CL:0000786 Intrathecal plasma cells are a reported source of GluN1 autoantibodies in mechanistic studies (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10).
Cell type CL neuron CL:0000540 Patient antibodies bind neuronal surface NMDARs and alter synaptic receptor density and function, implicating neurons as the primary target cell type (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 34-35, dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 2-3).
Subcellular GO synapse GO:0045202 Anti-NMDAR antibodies reduce synaptic NMDAR density and disrupt synaptic plasticity, so synapse is a core affected compartment (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38, gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
Subcellular GO plasma membrane GO:0005886 The pathogenic antibodies bind cell-surface NMDARs and decrease surface receptor density/localization (dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 2-3, gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
Subcellular GO recycling endosome GO:0055037 Internalized receptors preferentially traffic to Rab11-positive recycling endosomes in mechanistic studies (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 34-35).
Phenotype HPO Psychiatric symptoms HP:0000708 Psychiatric/behavioral symptoms are among the most common presenting features, affecting about 90% of teenagers/adults in review data (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).
Phenotype HPO Seizure HP:0001250 Seizures are a core diagnostic manifestation and occurred in 80.9% of a 220-patient cohort and 67% of a 106-patient cohort (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2, wang2020influencingelectroclinicalfeatures pages 1-2).
Phenotype HPO Dyskinesia HP:0100660 Movement disorder, especially orolingual-facial dyskinesia, is characteristic of anti-NMDAR encephalitis (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).
Phenotype HPO Autonomic dysfunction HP:0002271 Autonomic dysfunction is included in diagnostic criteria and includes instability of temperature, salivation, blood pressure, heart rate, and continence (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, ho2017highsensitivityand pages 3-3).
Phenotype HPO Central hypoventilation HP:0007110 Central hypoventilation is a recognized core manifestation linked to ICU care and worse prognosis (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, ho2017highsensitivityand pages 3-3).
Phenotype HPO Memory impairment HP:0002354 Memory deficits are frequent in the acute syndrome and remain a major long-term deficit domain in survivors (brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2, xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2).
Phenotype HPO Language impairment HP:0002465 Language scores remain persistently reduced in long-term follow-up and speech dysfunction is a core diagnostic domain (brenner2024longtermcognitivefunctional pages 1-2, ho2017highsensitivityand pages 3-3).
Phenotype HPO Mutism HP:0002300 Speech dysfunction in anti-NMDAR encephalitis includes verbal reduction and mutism in clinical criteria/reviews (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5).
Phenotype HPO Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis HP:0012675 CSF pleocytosis is common, with reported frequencies ranging from 47% to 91% across cohorts (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).
Phenotype HPO Oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid HP:0032150 Positive CSF oligoclonal bands are reported in roughly 25% to 62.6% of cases across studies (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6).
Phenotype HPO Abnormality of EEG HP:0002353 EEG is abnormal in most patients and supports diagnosis when antibody results are pending (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6, alsalek2024racialandethnic pages 1-2).
Phenotype HPO Delta brush EEG pattern ID not retrieved Extreme delta brush is a disease-associated EEG pattern specifically highlighted in anti-NMDAR encephalitis diagnostic discussions (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 3-5, graus2016aclinicalapproach pages 6-7).
Process GO receptor internalization GO:0031623 Patient antibodies cause NMDAR loss primarily through receptor crosslinking and internalization rather than agonist activation (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 34-35, dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 1-2).
Process GO regulation of synaptic plasticity GO:0048167 Loss of synaptic NMDARs impairs long-term potentiation and broader synaptic plasticity in passive-transfer studies (dalmau2016nmdareceptorencephalitis pages 7-9, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38).
Process GO trans-synaptic signaling GO:0099537 Reduced synaptic receptor density and altered hippocampal signaling support disruption of synaptic communication pathways (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
Process GO B cell mediated immunity GO:0019724 Disease pathogenesis involves autoreactive B cells and intrathecal antibody-producing cells targeting GluN1 (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10).
Process GO immunoglobulin production GO:0002377 Intrathecal synthesis of anti-GluN1 antibodies by B cells/plasma cells is part of the proposed pathogenic cascade (dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 37-38, dalmau2017autoantibodiestosynaptic pages 8-10).
Process GO blood-brain barrier maintenance GO:1990961 BBB dysfunction is repeatedly proposed as enabling entry/exit of antibodies and immune cells in anti-NMDAR encephalitis (gong2023antinmdarantibodiesthe pages 1-2).
Treatment MAXO corticosteroid therapy ID not retrieved High-dose corticosteroids are standard first-line immunotherapy in anti-NMDAR encephalitis management algorithms (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).
Treatment CHEBI methylprednisolone CHEBI:6888 IV methylprednisolone is explicitly listed as a first-line treatment option and regimen in the treatment table (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545).
Treatment MAXO intravenous immunoglobulin therapy ID not retrieved IVIG is a standard first-line immunotherapy and commonly combined with steroids in clinical practice (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).
Treatment CHEBI immunoglobulin CHEBI:59132 IVIG is directly listed in treatment recommendations and Table 2 for anti-NMDAR encephalitis (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545).
Treatment MAXO plasma exchange therapy ID not retrieved Plasma exchange/PLEX is a recommended first-line therapy for acute disease (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).
Treatment MAXO rituximab therapy ID not retrieved Rituximab is the best-established second-line escalation therapy for refractory disease and relapse prevention (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).
Treatment CHEBI rituximab CHEBI:64357 Rituximab is specifically named in the treatment table as second-line immunotherapy (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545).
Treatment MAXO cyclophosphamide therapy ID not retrieved Cyclophosphamide is a recommended second-line agent for refractory anti-NMDAR encephalitis (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).
Treatment CHEBI cyclophosphamide CHEBI:4027 Cyclophosphamide appears in the treatment table as a second-line immunotherapy option (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545).
Treatment MAXO tocilizumab therapy ID not retrieved Tocilizumab is described as a complementary option in refractory cases beyond standard second-line therapy (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545).
Treatment CHEBI tocilizumab CHEBI:71416 Tocilizumab is included among escalation/refractory therapies in the visualized treatment table (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).
Treatment MAXO bortezomib therapy ID not retrieved Bortezomib is considered in refractory cases when standard escalation is insufficient (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media a2c6c545).
Treatment CHEBI bortezomib CHEBI:52717 Bortezomib is listed among additional escalation therapies in the treatment table (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).
Treatment MAXO mycophenolate mofetil therapy ID not retrieved Mycophenolate mofetil is used as prolonged/maintenance immunotherapy in some cohorts and tables (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).
Treatment CHEBI mycophenolate mofetil CHEBI:31824 MMF is specifically listed as a maintenance therapy and was used >1 year in a large Chinese cohort (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).
Treatment MAXO azathioprine therapy ID not retrieved Azathioprine is used as long-term maintenance immunotherapy in some patients after the acute phase (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).
Treatment CHEBI azathioprine CHEBI:22636 Azathioprine is named in the treatment table and in long-term immunotherapy descriptions (xu2020antinmdarencephalitis pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune media e857af28).
Treatment MAXO tumor resection ID not retrieved Treatment guidance emphasizes teratoma removal alongside immunotherapy when an ovarian teratoma is present (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 6-7).
Treatment MAXO tumor screening ID not retrieved All patients should be screened at least once for neoplasm, and female patients may need serial pelvic imaging because ovarian teratoma is a common trigger (nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 1-2, nguyen2023antinmdareceptorautoimmune pages 5-6).

Table: This table maps key anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis concepts to suggested ontology terms across disease, anatomy, cell type, phenotype, process, and treatment categories. It is evidence-aligned to the retrieved literature and can help populate a structured disease knowledge base.

Notes on citation requirements (PMID)

Where possible, this report cites primary literature and major reviews with DOI and publication year/month extracted from the retrieved sources. PMIDs were not available in the current tool context for most items, so they are not included to avoid introducing unsupported identifiers.

References

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  9. (NCT03274375 chunk 1): Immunoadsorption Therapy in Managing NMDAR Antibodies Encephalitis. Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03274375

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