Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41082510›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Low frequency of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor autoimmunity in tick-borne encephalitis.

Jakob Morén, Barbro Persson, Anna Sörman, Åke Lundkvist, Hanin Shihab, Marie Studahl, Malin Veje, Göran Günther, Gabriel Westman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

9 authors.

Jakob MorénInfection Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2888-2722
Barbro PerssonDepartment of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Anna SörmanDepartment of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Åke LundkvistZoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Hanin ShihabInfectious Diseases, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Marie StudahlDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Malin VejeDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Göran GüntherInfection Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Gabriel WestmanInfection Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection of the central nervous system that may cause severe illness and long-term sequelae, to which underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Autoantibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) may be triggered by immunologic events, occur sporadically, and can cause autoimmune encephalitis. Following herpes simplex encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis, anti-NMDAR autoantibodies may develop and have been associated with relapse or impaired cognitive recovery. Tick-borne encephalitis has been shown to trigger anti-NMDAR encephalitis in sporadic cases, but the frequency of autoimmunization is unknown.

objectivesThe objective of this study was to assess the frequency of intrathecal anti-NMDAR antibody development following tick-borne encephalitis and to explore whether such antibodies could be relevant to cognitive complaints.

methodsAdult patients with tick-borne encephalitis were included retrospectively from one cohort and prospectively from another. A stored post-acute cerebrospinal fluid sample was required for anti-NMDAR analysis. Two commercial kits (Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany) were used to detect anti-NMDAR IgG antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid.

resultsA total of 71 cerebrospinal fluid samples from 53 patients were analyzed for anti-NMDAR antibodies. Samples were obtained at a median of 91 days (range 21-471) after onset of central nervous system symptoms. Anti-NMDAR antibodies were detected in two samples from a single tick-borne encephalitis patient, corresponding to 1.9% of patients (95% CI: 0.05-10.1%).

conclusionsThe development of intrathecal anti-NMDAR autoantibodies following tick-borne encephalitis is a rare event, and further studies are needed to clarify their potential relevance to cognitive outcomes in a minority of cases. Testing for anti-NMDAR antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid may be considered in patients who experience clinical deterioration following an initial recovery.

Indexed as

AutoantibodiesAutoimmunityEncephalitis, Tick-BorneReceptors, N-Methyl-D-AspartateAdultAgedAnti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor EncephalitisFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAutoantibodiesReceptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Identifiers

PMID41082510
PMCPMC12517480

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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.