The Search for Autoimmune-Associated Epilepsy Continues—Are We Getting Closer to Our Target?

Abstract

Clinical Features Which Predict Neuronal Surface Autoantibodies in New-Onset Focal Epilepsy: Implications for Immunotherapies McGinty RN, Handel A, Moloney T, et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020;92(3):291-294. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2020-325011 Objective: To generate a score which clinically identifies surface-directed autoantibodies in adults with new-onset focal epilepsy and evaluate the value of immunotherapy in this clinical setting. Methods: Prospective clinical and autoantibody evaluations in a cohort of 219 consecutive patients with new-onset focal epilepsy. Results: A total of 10.5% (23/219) of people with new-onset focal epilepsy had detectable serum autoantibodies to known or novel cell surface antigenic targets. Nine of 23 with autoantibodies were diagnosed with encephalitis, by contrast to 0/196 without autoantibodies (P 10 000 IU/mL). Risk factors for AES were temporal magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensities (odds ratio [OR] = 255.3, 95% CI = 19.6-3332.2, P