Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Anti-Alpha- Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazolepropionic Acid Receptor Encephalitis

Abstract

Background Encephalitis associated with antibodies against alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) is an extremely rare type of antibody-mediated encephalitis. This research aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of anti-AMPAR encephalitis. Methods This retrospective study enrolled nine patients with anti-AMPAR encephalitis. Demographic information, clinical manifestations, laboratory and radiological findings, treatment and response were collected and analyzed. These patients were followed up with an average period of 72 weeks to gather prognostic information. Results Nine patients (7 females and 2 males) were enrolled with the mean age of disease onset as 59 years old. Three clinical syndromes, including limbic encephalitis (n=7; 78%), pure amnesia (n=1; 11%) and fulminant encephalitis (n=1; 11%) were identified. New symptoms of dysphagia and deafness were identified in the clinical spectrum of anti-AMPAR encephalitis. All patients had positive blood AMPAR antibodies, and six of them (67%) had paired positive antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were abnormal in 75% of the patients with no specific patterns recognized. Six patients (67%) had tumors, including lung cancers or thymomas. After immunotherapy and oncotherapy, partial improvement of neurological symptoms was observed among all 6 patients with available records during their hospitalization. During a mean follow-up of 72 weeks, 3 patients had marked improvement of modified Rankin Scale (mRS), one patient had unchanged mRS, 4 patients died and the other one was lost. Conclusions Anti-AMPAR encephalitis mainly presents as limbic encephalitis. Anti-AMPAR encephalitis is paraneoplastic in 67% cases and intensive screening for tumors is recommended for all anti-AMPAR patients. Although patients showed a good short-term therapeutic response, the overall prognosis was not satisfactory.