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Background and Objectives: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies (abs) have been described primarily in adults with a spectrum of autoimmune-mediated diseases. In children, data on clinical and neuroradiologic features of children with autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy are limited. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and radiologic features in children with GFAP-ab-associated diseases., Methods: We retrospectively recruited children from 13 clinical centers between 2020 and 2023 who (1) tested positive for GFAP-ab in serum and/or CSF and (2) of whom a complete clinical and MRI data set was available., Results: We identified and included 15 children (5 girls, 10 boys). The median age at onset was 9.9 years (range: 2-16 years). All children presented with features of AE or meningitis, acute cerebellitis, or transverse myelitis. CSF pleocytosis was common (13/15, median 245 cells/μL), and 13 (87%) of 15 harbored GFAP-abs in their CSF, 8 (53%) of whom did not have detectable GFAP-abs in their serum. MRI was abnormal in 15 (100%) of 15 children: Specific patterns included confluent lesions in the pons or caudate nucleus (11/15; 73%), peri-aqueductal regions (13/15; 87%), and spinal cord (6/10; 60%). 12 children had a favorable outcome (mRS score of

Objectives: To report the association of zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 1 antibodies (ZSCAN1-abs) with rapid-onset obesity, hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation (ROHHAD) syndrome in patients without tumor., Methods: Patients with symptoms compatible with ROHHAD syndrome but without an associated tumor were selected from our database. Serum and CSF samples were examined for the presence of ZSCAN1-abs by an in-house cell-based assay. In addition, samples from 149 patients with several inflammatory and noninflammatory disorders and 50 healthy participants served as controls., Results: Thirteen patients with ROHHAD syndrome were identified. Of these, we had paired serum/CSF samples from 6 patients and only serum from the other 7. Five of 6 patients (83.3%) with paired serum/CSF (4 children, 1 adult) had ZSCAN-abs only in CSF and 1 had antibodies in serum and CSF. ZSCAN1-abs were not detected in the remaining 7 patients with ROHHAD with only serum available or in any of the 199 control samples., Discussion: Patients with ROHHAD syndrome should be investigated for the presence of ZSCAN1-abs in CSF. The antibodies do not necessarily predict the presence of a tumor. The detection of ZSCAN1-abs in an adult patient suggests that this condition also occurs beyond the pediatric age.

Objectives: To assess the daily function of children with anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDARe) after a minimal follow-up of 5 years., Methods: Patients 18 years and younger by the time of disease onset, whose serum and CSF were studied in our center between 2013 and 2017, were included in the study. Patients' daily life function was assessed by their physicians using a 15-domain question format (Liverpool Outcome Score)., Results: Of 76 patients, 8 (11%) died and 68 were followed for a mean of 7.1 years (SD 1.5 years, range: 5.0-10.1). Three outcome patterns were identified: full recovery (50; 73%); behavioral and school/working deficits (12; 18%); and multidomain deficits (6; 9%) involving self-care ability, behavioral-cognitive impairment, and seizures. Younger age of disease onset was significantly associated with multidomain deficits (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02-2.4, p = 0.04), particularly in children younger than 6 years, among whom 8 of 23 (35%) remained sociofamiliar dependent., Discussion: After a minimal follow-up of 5 years, most children with NMDARe had substantial or full functional recovery, but approximately one-fifth remained with behavioral and school/working deficits. The younger the patient at disease onset, the more probable it was to remain with multidomain deficits and dependent on sociofamiliar support.

Objectives: To assess the frequency and types of neuronal and glial (neural) antibodies in children with suspected autoimmune encephalitis (AE)., Methods: Patients younger than 18 years with suspected AE other than acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, whose serum or CSF samples were examined in our center between January 1, 2011, and April 30, 2022, were included in this study. Samples were systematically examined using brain immunohistochemistry; positive immunostaining was further investigated with cell-based assays (CBA), immunoblot, or live neuronal immunofluorescence., Results: Of 2,750 children, serum or CSF samples of 542 (20%) showed brain immunoreactivity, mostly (>90%) against neural cell surface antigens, and 19 had antibodies only identified by CBA. The most frequent targets were N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR, 76%) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG, 5%), followed by glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (2%) and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (2%). Antibodies against other known cell surface or intracellular neural antigens (altogether 6% of positive cases) and unknown antigens (9%) were very infrequent., Discussion: The repertoire of antibodies in children with AE is different from that of the adults. Except for NMDAR and MOG antibodies, many of the antibodies included in diagnostic panels are rarely positive and their up-front testing in children seems unneeded., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)

Background and Objective: In people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), concern for potential disease exacerbation or triggering of other autoimmune disorders contributes to vaccine hesitancy. We assessed the humoral and T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 after mRNA vaccination, changes in disease activity, and development of antibodies against central or peripheral nervous system antigens., Methods: This was a prospective 1-year longitudinal observational study of pwMS and a control group of patients with other inflammatory neurologic disorders (OIND) who received an mRNA vaccine. Blood samples were obtained before the first dose (T1), 1 month after the first dose (T2), 1 month after the second dose (T3), and 6 (T4), 9 (T5), and 12 (T6) months after the first dose. Patients were assessed for the immune-specific response, annualized relapse rate (ARR), and antibodies to onconeuronal, neural surface, glial, ganglioside, and nodo-paranodal antigens., Results: Among 454 patients studied, 390 had MS (22 adolescents) and 64 OIND; the mean (SD) age was 44 (14) years; 315 (69%) were female; and 392 (87%) were on disease-modifying therapies. Antibodies to the receptor-binding domain were detected in 367 (86%) patients at T3 and 276 (83%) at T4. After a third dose, only 13 (22%) of 60 seronegative patients seroconverted, and 255 (92%) remained seropositive at T6. Cellular responses were present in 381 (93%) patients at T3 and in 235 (91%) patients at T6 including all those receiving anti-CD20 therapies and in 79% of patients receiving fingolimod. At T3 (429 patients) or T6 (395 patients), none of the patients had developed CNS autoantibodies. Seven patients had neural antibodies that were already present before immunization (3 adult patients with MS had MOG-IgG, 2 with MG and 1 with MS had neuronal cell surface antibodies [unknown antigen], and 1 with MS had myelin antibody reactivity [unknown antigen]. Similarly, no antibodies against PNS antigens were identified at T3 (427 patients). ARR was lower in MS and not significantly different in patients with OIND. Although 182 (40%) patients developed SARS-CoV-2 infection, no cases of severe COVID-19 or serious adverse events occurred., Discussion: In this study, mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was safe and did not exacerbate the autoimmune disease nor triggered neural autoantibodies or immune-mediated neurologic disorders. The outcome of patients who developed SARS-CoV-2 infection was favorable., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)

Background and Objectives: To investigate whether children receiving immunosuppressive therapies for neuroimmunologic disorders had (1) increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection or to develop more severe forms of COVID-19; (2) increased relapses or autoimmune complications if infected; and (3) changes in health care delivery during the pandemic., Methods: Patients with and without immunosuppressive treatment were recruited to participate in a retrospective survey evaluating the period from March 14, 2020, to March 30, 2021. Demographics, clinical features, type of immunosuppressive treatment, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the patients or cohabitants, and changes in care delivery were recorded., Results: One hundred fifty-three children were included: 84 (55%) female, median age 13 years (interquartile range [8-16] years), 79 (52%) on immunosuppressive treatment. COVID-19 was suspected or confirmed in 17 (11%) (all mild), with a frequency similar in patients with and without immunosuppressive treatment (11/79 [14%] vs 6/74 [8%], p = 0.3085). The frequency of neurologic relapses was similar in patients with (18%) and without (21%) COVID-19. Factors associated with COVID-19 included having cohabitants with COVID-19 ( p < 0.001) and lower blood levels of vitamin D ( p = 0.039). Return to face-to-face schooling or mask type did not influence the risk of infection, although 43(28%) children had contact with a classmate with COVID-19. Clinic visits changed from face to face to remote for 120 (79%) patients; 110 (92%) were satisfied with the change., Discussion: In this cohort of children with neuroimmunologic disorders, the frequency of COVID-19 was low and not affected by immunosuppressive therapies. The main risk factors for developing COVID-19 were having cohabitants with COVID-19 and low vitamin D levels., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)