Journal Article

Clinical predictors of encephalitis in UK adults–A multi-centre prospective observational cohort study

Cheyne, Chris, Garcia-Finana, Marta, Carrol, Enitan, Salter, Anne Christine, Vincent, Angela, Davies, Nicholas W. S., Griffiths, Michael J., Beeching, Nicholas J., Michael, Benedict D., Tharmaratnam, Kukatharmini, Das, Kumar, Medina-Lara, Antonieta, Ellul, Mark, Defres, Sylviane, Kneen, Rachel, Hardwick, Hayley, Easton, Ava, Bhojak, Maneesh, Solomon, Tom

2023

Overview

Encephalitis, brain inflammation and swelling, most often caused by an infection or the body's immune defences, can have devastating consequences, especially if diagnosed late. We looked for clinical predictors of different types of encephalitis to help clinicians consider earlier treatment. We conducted a multicentre prospective observational cohort study (ENCEPH-UK) of adults (> 16 years) with suspected encephalitis at 31 UK hospitals. We evaluated clinical features and investigated for infectious and autoimmune causes. 341 patients were enrolled between December 2012 and December 2015 and followed up for 12 months. 233 had encephalitis, of whom 65 (28%) had HSV, 38 (16%) had confirmed or probable autoimmune encephalitis, and 87 (37%) had no cause found. The median time from admission to 1.sup.st dose of aciclovir for those with HSV was 14 hours (IQR 5-50); time to 1.sup.st dose of immunosuppressant for the autoimmune group was 125 hours (IQR 45-250). Compared to non-HSV encephalitis, patients with HSV more often had fever, lower serum sodium and lacked a rash. Those with probable or confirmed autoimmune encephalitis were more likely to be female, have abnormal movements, normal serum sodium levels and a cerebrospinal fluid white cell count < 20 cells x10.sup.6 /L, but they were less likely to have a febrile illness. Initiation of treatment for autoimmune encephalitis is delayed considerably compared with HSV encephalitis. Clinical features can help identify patients with autoimmune disease and could be used to initiate earlier presumptive therapy.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Acids / Adults / Antibodies / Autoimmune diseases / Biology and Life Sciences / Blood cell count / Care and treatment / Cerebrospinal fluid / Cohort analysis / Consciousness / Diagnosis / Dosage and administration / Encephalitis / Fever / Health aspects / Health services / Immunosuppressive agents / Medical research / Medicine and Health Sciences / Observational studies / Patients / Personality / Proteins / Regression analysis / Research and Analysis Methods / Sodium / Variables