Bokhari Syed Faqeer Hussain, I Kh Almadhoun Mohammed Khaleel, Khan Muhammad U, Ahmad Shahzad, Awan Manahil, Imran Muhammad Mustafa, Bashir Muhammad, Tariq Muhammad Rohail, Imran Minahil, Khalid Muhammad Omer
Medicine and Surgery, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, PAK.
Medicine and Surgery, Mutah University, Karak, JOR.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 9;16(9):e69038. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69038. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a rare yet critical neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain, typically triggered by an abnormal immune response. The early detection and diagnosis of AE are crucial for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. However, the diagnostic process is often complicated by the diverse clinical presentations of AE, which can mimic other neurological and psychiatric conditions. Currently, diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical evaluation, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and the detection of specific autoantibodies. Despite advances in these areas, challenges remain, particularly in cases where patients are seronegative or present with nonspecific symptoms. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of emerging biomarkers for the early detection of AE, highlighting their potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed. We explore a variety of biomarkers, including novel autoantibodies, inflammatory markers, cytokines, and neuronal damage indicators, and discuss their clinical implications. This review emphasizes the need for biomarkers that are not only sensitive and specific but also accessible and rapid to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment. By synthesizing current research, this review aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts to refine the diagnostic approach to AE, ultimately improving outcomes for patients affected by this challenging condition.
自身免疫性脑炎（AE）是一种罕见但严重的神经系统疾病，其特征是脑部炎症，通常由异常免疫反应引发。AE的早期检测和诊断对于有效治疗和改善患者预后至关重要。然而，AE多样的临床表现常使诊断过程复杂化，这些表现可能类似其他神经和精神疾病。目前，诊断依赖于临床评估、神经影像学、脑脊液分析以及特定自身抗体的检测。尽管在这些领域取得了进展，但挑战依然存在，尤其是在患者血清学阴性或出现非特异性症状的情况下。这篇叙述性综述全面概述了用于AE早期检测的新兴生物标志物，强调了它们提高诊断准确性和速度的潜力。我们探讨了多种生物标志物，包括新型自身抗体、炎症标志物、细胞因子和神经元损伤指标，并讨论了它们的临床意义。本综述强调需要不仅敏感且特异，而且易于获取且快速的生物标志物，以促进早期诊断和治疗。通过综合当前研究，本综述旨在为不断完善AE诊断方法的努力做出贡献，最终改善受这种具有挑战性疾病影响的患者的预后。
