Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy 2018; 07(02): 040-044
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1668588
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antibody-Associated Autoimmune Encephalitis and Epilepsies in Children

Tuhina Govil
1   Carman and Ann Adams Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
,
Mitchel T. Williams
1   Carman and Ann Adams Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

02 June 2018

20 June 2018

Publication Date:
03 September 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Autoimmune causes of epilepsy have become an increasingly recognized etiology, especially in treatment refractory cases. Over the past two decades, there has been an explosion of new biomarkers that have led to the identification of new syndromes. As the underlying pathophysiology is immune driven, their management and treatment are directed at the modulation of this abnormal immune response against self-antigens. These antibody-specific syndromes show variation between adult and pediatric populations. We focus this review article on those identified autoimmune encephalopathies and epilepsies and clinical differences between them as well as age-related variations that have been reported.