AUTHOR=Liu Lizhi , Liang Jie , Liu Qing , Luo Chongliang , Liu Jia , Fan Rong , Chen Zhigang , Chen Yong , Peng Fuhua , Jiang Ying 

TITLE=Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.00464

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2019.00464

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Homocysteine (Hcy) levels have been investigated in many diseases, such as neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. However, changes in Hcy levels in anti-N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis have not been investigated thus far.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Case data were collected from 45 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis and 179 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Clinical characteristics, Hcy levels, C reactive protein (CRP) levels, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters were determined. Association of Hcy and clinical parameters were evaluated in these patients. Among these 45 patients, 15 had a follow-up evaluation at 3 months after treatment.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Hcy levels (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and CRP levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.005) from the patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were significantly higher than those from HCs. Hcy levels from male patients were significantly lower than those from male HCs (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Comparing anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients after treatment with before treatment, the former has significantly higher Hcy levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.004), CRP levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.041) and mRS scores (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation between the changes in Hcy levels and the changes in mRS scores (<italic>r</italic> = −0.534, <italic>p</italic> = 0.040) was observed.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Elevated plasma homocysteine occurs in anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and seems associated with male sex.</p>