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Case Reports
. 2022 Oct 20:10:1004210.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.1004210. eCollection 2022.

Anti-contactin-associated protein-like 2 antibody-associated encephalitis in children: A case report and literature review

Qingyang Dou  1   2 , Renke Li  1 , Xiaomei Shu  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Anti-contactin-associated protein-like 2 antibody-associated encephalitis in children: A case report and literature review

Qingyang Dou et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Anti-Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2) antibody-associated encephalitis is a rare group of autoimmune diseases that causes extensive damage to the central and/or peripheral nervous system.

Case presentation: Here, we reported a case of anti-CASPR2 antibody-associated encephalitis in a 12-year-old male patient with symptoms of headache, consciousness disturbance, mental abnormalities, urinary incontinence, fasciculations in the extremity muscles, and involuntary movements. The testing for autoimmune encephalitis-associated antibodies showed that CASPR2-associated antibodies were positive, and electroencephalography showed diffuse slow waves. No tumor was found after screening for malignancies. The child's status significantly improved after receiving immunotherapy with intravenous methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin.

Conclusions: Anti-CASPR2 antibody-associated encephalitis has been rarely reported in children. It has a complex clinical presentation and a low incidence of tumor. Most pediatric patients have a favorable prognosis and relapse is uncommon.

Keywords: antibody; autoimmune encephalitis; caspr2; children; prognosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of disease onset and course.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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