Electroencephalogram Features of Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis and Their Value for Clinical Assessment

  Objective  To analyze the electroencephalogram (EEG) features of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) and to study the clinical assessment value of the degree of EEG background slowing and the presence of δ brush.

  Methods  We enrolled 52 patients with anti-NMDARE and collected their clinical data, including age, sex, form of disease onset, status of tumor comorbidity, auxiliary examination findings (cerebrospinal fluid CSF anti-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody titers, magnetic resonance imaging MRI reports, and EEG results), treatment status, and follow-up after discharge. The degree of EEG background abnormality and the presence of δ brush in the EEG of patients with different clinical features were analyzed.

  Results  Among the 52 patients, 7 (14%) had normal EEG, and 45 (87%), abnormal EEG, including 25 (48%) with mild abnormalities, 11 (21%) with moderate abnormalities, and 9 (17%) with severe abnormalities. δ brush was seen in 6 (12%) patients. At the time of EEG, 32 (62%) patients were in the mild condition group and 20 (38%) patients were in the severe condition group. After 1 year of follow-up, there were 45 (86%) patients in the good prognosis group and 7 (14%) patients in the poor prognosis group. The exacerbation of EEG background abnormalities and the presence of δ brush were indications for an increase in the proportion of patients who were in severe condition, who needed ICU admission, and who had poor prognosis (P<0.01). The worse the EEG background abnormalities, the higher the proportion of CSF antibody titers>1∶10 (P=0.035), and the higher the proportion of patients initiating second-line immunotherapy (P=0.008). The δ brush was seen a higher proportion in patients with comorbid tumors (P=0.012). The probability of δ brush presence was higher in the first-time diagnosis cases than that in recurrent cases (P=0.023).

  Conclusions  The degree of EEG slowing and the presence of δ brush have shown consistent performance in assessing patients' condition and predicting prognosis. The slower the EEG, the more severe the disease, and the worse the prognosis. The presence of δ brush indicates severe disease and poor prognosis. EEG slowing is correlated with the immune status of patients with anti-NMDARE. The slower the EEG, the more severe the immune abnormalities. In clinical practice, patient EEG should be under dynamic monitoring in order to evaluate the effect of immunotherapy. If EEG slowing is not improved, enhanced immunotherapy should be considered as early as possible. The δ brush is seen at a higher proportion in patients with comorbid tumors. Therefore, active efforts should be made to screen for tumors when δ brush is present.