Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41884821›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Antineuronal antibody titres in autoimmune encephalitis: clinical implications for diagnosis and long-term immunotherapy.

Hanna Schwab, Josua Kegele, Markus C Kowarik, Holger Lerche, Stephan Lauxmann

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

5 authors.

Hanna SchwabDepartment of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Hertie Center of Neurology, University and University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Josua KegeleDepartment of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Hertie Center of Neurology, University and University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Markus C KowarikDepartment of Neurology and Vascular Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Hertie Center of Neurology, University and University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Holger LercheDepartment of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Hertie Center of Neurology, University and University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Stephan LauxmannDepartment of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Hertie Center of Neurology, University and University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The role of antineuronal antibody titres in the acute and long-term diagnostic and therapeutic management of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) remains unclear. In this retrospective monocentric cohort study, we aimed to (I) identify specific characteristics in antibody testing distinguishing AE from non-AE patients, (II) evaluate the prognostic significance of antineuronal antibody findings and (III) assess outcomes and long-term immunotherapy in patients with AE. Methods: Patients with suspected autoimmune-associated neuropsychiatric conditions underwent antineuronal antibody testing between 01/2017 and 03/2023. Patients with positive antibody tests were stratified into AE and non-AE groups based on the clinical criteria proposed by Graus and colleagues. Long-term outcomes, antibody titres, and therapeutic strategies were analysed in AE patients over a three-year follow-up period. Among 2,466 patients tested, 53 met the diagnostic criteria for AE. Results: In AE patients with paired serum and CSF samples (n = 44), antibodies were detectable in both serum and CSF in 55% of cases (n = 24), in serum only in 36% (n = 16), and in CSF only in 9% (n = 4). AE patients with poor outcomes (n=5) showed a trend toward higher median CSF titres in the acute phase and at four months post-onset compared to patients with good outcomes (n=14); however, differences were not statistically significant. Regarding long-term immunotherapy, rituximab-treated patients experienced fewer relapses than those receiving intravenous-immunoglobulins (IVIG; p-value = 0.02). Discussion: These exploratory results from a small, heterogeneous cohort require confirmation in larger, prospective studies. Based on our data regarding serum and CSF antibodies, in a resource- limited setting we propose a stepwise diagnostic approach starting with serum screening; in suspected anti-NMDAR-AE, initial paired serum/CSF testing remains essential. If antibodies are detected in serum, additional CSF antibody testing may provide diagnostic confirmation and help guide treatment decisions, as high acute-phase CSF titres may suggest poorer long-term outcomes; however, this potential prognostic value requires confirmation in larger, antibody-specific studies.

Indexed as

AutoantibodiesEncephalitisHashimoto DiseaseImmunotherapyNeuronsAdultAgedBiomarkersFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesRituximabTreatment OutcomeAutoantibodiesBiomarkersRituximabantineuronal antibodiesautoimmune encephalitiscerebrospinal fluidimmunotherapyrituximab

Identifiers

PMID41884821
PMCPMC13008692

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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.