Table 4.
Comparative characteristics of patients with antibody-negative encephalitis: relapsing versus non-relapsing cases.
| Characteristics | Relapse (n=24) | No relapse (n=82) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female (%) | 5 (20.8) | 32 (39.0) | 0.100 |
| Age at onset (range), y | 53 (4-78) | 43.5 (9-80) | 0.472 |
| Initial presentation | |||
| Neuropsychiatric | 7 (29.2) | 24 (29.3) | 0.992 |
| Seizures | 10 (41.7) | 28 (34.1) | 0.499 |
| Memory dysfunction | 3 (12.5) | 23 (28.0) | 0.119 |
| Impaired consciousness | 0 (0.0) | 4 (4.9) | 0.572 |
| Language problem | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.4) | 1.000 |
| Dyskinesia/dystonia | 1 (4.2) | 0 (0.0) | 0.226 |
| Gait instability and ataxia | 2 (8.3) | 1 (1.2) | 0.128 |
| Other | 1 (4.2) | 0 (0.0) | 0.226 |
| Delayed immunotherapy (%) | 6 (0.25) | 28 (34.1) | 0.398 |
| ≥2ASM | 10 (41.7) | 25 (30.5) | 0.306 |
| ICU admission (%) | 7 (29.2) | 15 (18.3) | 0.385 |
| GCS scores ≤ 13 (%) | 8 (33.3) | 28 (34.1) | 0.941 |
| Any cognitive concerns, n (%) | 20 (83.3) | 71 (86.6) | 0.945 |
| Presence of tumor (%) | 1 (4.2) | 5 (6.1) | 1.000 |
| Diffusion restriction (%) | |||
| Cortex (%) | 14 (58.3) | 42 (51.2) | 0.539 |
| Subcortex/white matter (%) | 8 (33.3) | 36 (43.9) | 0.355 |
| Medial temporal cortex (%) | 7 (29.2) | 35 (42.7) | 0.234 |
| Infra-tentorium (%) | 3 (12.5) | 5 (6.1) | 0.545 |
| Video-EEG | |||
| Diffuse slow wave | 4 (16.7) | 26 (31.7) | 0.150 |
| Interictal epileptiform discharge | 14 (58.3) | 35 (42.7) | 0.176 |
| Seizures captured | 4 (16.7) | 10 (12.2) | 0.821 |
| Initially treated with combined first-line IT, n (%) | 12 (50.0) | 34 (41.5) | 0.458 |
| Initially treated with long-term IT, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (4.9) | 0.572 |
| Treated with long-term IT during course, n (%) | 2 (8.3) | 3 (3.7) | 0.317 |
| Treated with second-line IT during course, n (%) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.4) | 1.000 |
| combined first-line IT+long-term IT during course | 2 (8.3) | 2 (2.4) | 0.220 |
| combined first-line IT + second-line IT during course | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.2) | 1.000 |
| Highest seizure frequency, n (%) | |||
| Single seizure Multiple daily/daily Weekly Monthly |
0 (0.0) | 5 (6.1) | 0.586 |
| 11 (45.8) | 17 (20.7) | 0.014 | |
| 4 (16.7) | 20 (24.4) | 0.427 | |
| 2 (8.3) | 10 (12.2) | 0.874 | |
| Type of seizure at onset, n (%) | |||
| Focal seizures | 17 (70.8) | 52 (63.4) | 0.502 |
| SE | 7 (29.2) | 16 (19.5) | 0.313 |
| CSF leucocyte level (106/L) M (P25,P75) | 3.5 (2.0,10.0) | 3.0 (1.0,7.0) | 0.439 |
| CSF protein level (g/L) M (P25,P75) | 0.47 (0.29,0.66) | 0.42 (0.30,0.65) | 0.899 |
| CASE scores M (P25,P75) | 5.0 (3.0,5.8) | 5.0 (3.0,6.0) | 0.403 |
| Immunotherapy-3M CASE scores M (P25,P75) | 2 (1,2) | 2 (1,3) | 0.402 |
| Baseline mRS scores M (P25,P75) | 2.5 (2,4) | 3 (2,4) | 0.853 |
| Immunotherapy-3M mRS scores M (P25,P75) | 2 (1,2) | 2 (1,2) | 0.678 |
ASM, antiseizure medication; ICU, intensive care unit; EEG, electroencephalography; IT, immunotherapy; FBDS, faciobrachial dystonic seizures; SE, status epilepticus; CASE, Clinical Assessment Scale in Autoimmune Encephalitis; mRS, modified Rankin Scale.