Medicine (RMH) - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Psychometric deficits in autoimmune encephalitis: A retrospective study from the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium
    Griffith, S ; Wesselingh, R ; Broadley, J ; O'Shea, M ; Kyndt, C ; Meade, C ; Long, B ; Seneviratne, U ; Reidy, N ; Bourke, R ; Buzzard, K ; D'Souza, W ; Macdonell, R ; Brodtmann, A ; Butzkueven, H ; O'Brien, TJ ; Alpitsis, R ; Malpas, CB ; Monif, M (WILEY, 2022-08)
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the rapid increase in research examining outcomes in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) patients, there are few cohort studies examining cognitive outcomes in this population. The current study aimed to characterise psychometric outcomes in this population, and explore variables that may predict psychometric outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective observational study collected psychometric data from 59 patients across six secondary and tertiary referral centres in metropolitan hospitals in Victoria, Australia between January 2008 and July 2019. Frequency and pattern analysis were employed to define and characterize psychometric outcomes. Univariable logistic regression was performed to examine predictors of intact and pathological psychometric outcomes. RESULTS: Deficits in psychometric markers of executive dysfunction were the most common finding in this cohort, followed by deficits on tasks sensitive to memory. A total of 54.2% of patients were classified as having psychometric impairments across at least two cognitive domains. Twenty-nine patterns were observed, suggesting outcomes in AE are complex. None of the demographic data, clinical features or auxiliary examination variables were predictors of psychometric outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive outcomes in AE are complex. Further detailed and standardized cognitive testing, in combination with magnetic resonance imaging volumetrics and serum/cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, is required to provide rigorous assessments of disease outcomes.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Peripheral Immune Cell Ratios and Clinical Outcomes in Seropositive Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Study by the Australian Autoimmune Encephalitis Consortium
    Broadley, J ; Wesselingh, R ; Seneviratne, U ; Kyndt, C ; Beech, P ; Buzzard, K ; Nesbitt, C ; D'Souza, W ; Brodtmann, A ; Kalincik, T ; Butzkueven, H ; O'Brien, TJ ; Monif, M (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2021-01-14)
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of the peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) as biomarkers of prognosis in seropositive autoimmune encephalitis (AE). METHODS: In this multicenter study, we retrospectively analyzed 57 cases of seropositive AE with hospital admissions between January 2008 and June 2019. The initial full blood examination was used to determine each patients' NLR and MLR. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was utilized to assess the patients' follow-up disability at 12 months and then at final follow-up. Primary outcomes were mortality and mRS, while secondary outcomes were failure of first line treatment, ICU admission, and clinical relapse. Univariate and multivariable regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: During initial hospital admission 44.7% of patients had unsuccessful first line treatment. After a median follow-up of 700 days, 82.7% had good functional outcome (mRS ≤2) while five patients had died. On multivariable analysis, high NLR was associated with higher odds of first line treatment failure (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.69, p = 0.029). Increased MLR was not associated with any short or long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: NLR on initial hospital admission blood tests may be provide important prognostic information for cases of seropositive AE. This study demonstrates the potential use of NLR as a prognostic marker in the clinical evaluation of patients with seropositive AE.