Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31243540›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2019

Unilateral cortical FLAIR-hyperintense Lesions in Anti-MOG-associated Encephalitis with Seizures (FLAMES): characterization of a distinct clinico-radiographic syndrome.

A Budhram, A Mirian, C Le, S M Hosseini-Moghaddam, M Sharma, M W Nicolle

Abstract readCase ReportsSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 94 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
94citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
14.9field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

94 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 218 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Clinical features of recurrent MOG antibody-associated cortical encephalitis in adults.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. A Case of Cerebral Cortical Encephalitis.Annals of clinical and translational neurology · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Imaging biomarkers in antibody-mediated autoimmune encephalitis.Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · 2025
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Uncommon Non-MS Demyelinating Disorders of the Central Nervous System.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2025
    Review
  17. Review
  18. Review
  19. Review
  20. Article

34 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

A BudhramDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurology, University Hospital, Western University, 339 Windermere Rd., London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada. adrian.budhram@lhsc.on.ca.
A MirianDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurology, University Hospital, Western University, 339 Windermere Rd., London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada.
C LeDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurology, University Hospital, Western University, 339 Windermere Rd., London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada.
S M Hosseini-MoghaddamDepartment of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
M SharmaDepartment of Medical Imaging, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
M W NicolleDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Division of Neurology, University Hospital, Western University, 339 Windermere Rd., London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada.
Western University · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo characterize the clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of unilateral cortical FLAIR-hyperintense Lesions in Anti-MOG-associated Encephalitis with Seizures (FLAMES).

methodsThis is a case report and systematic review of the literature to identify cases of unilateral cortical FLAMES. Cases were reviewed to determine the frequency of clinical symptoms (seizures, headache, fever and cortical symptoms referable to FLAMES location), and to determine whether MRI abnormalities are restricted to the unilateral cortex in this syndrome.

resultsWe identified 20 cases of unilateral cortical FLAMES for review. Among them, 17/20 (85%) had seizures, 14/20 (70%) had headache, 13/20 (65%) had fever, 11/20 (55%) reported cortical symptoms referable to the FLAMES location, and 19/20 (95%) reported at least two of these four findings. On MRI 4/20 (20%) had some contralateral hemispheric cortical signal abnormality, and 6/20 (30%) had MRI findings concerning for meningeal inflammation.

conclusionsIn patients with unilateral cortical FLAMES, the clinical symptoms of seizures, headache, fever and cortical symptoms referable to the FLAMES location are frequent. Although initially described as a unilateral cortical encephalitis, bilateral cortical involvement and possible meningeal inflammation could indicate a broader disease spectrum. Recognition of this distinct clinico-radiographic syndrome may facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Indexed as

Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous SystemEncephalitisHeadacheSeizuresAdolescentAdultChildFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMyelin-Oligodendrocyte GlycoproteinYoung AdultMOG protein, humanMyelin-Oligodendrocyte GlycoproteinAutoimmuneEncephalitisMOGMRIMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoproteinSeizures

Identifiers

PMID31243540
OpenAlexW2956073307

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.