Immune-mediated/autoimmune disorders are characterized by neuronal autoantibodies that bind to proteins essential for normal brain function and development. When synaptic proteins are targeted, pediatric patients present a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms. New findings regarding the overlap between inflammatory demyelinating encephalopathies and autoimmune encephalitis due to neuronal surface antibodies and their coexistence with viral forms pose new challenges to the diagnosis. Furthermore, there are still several uncertainties in the critical care management of these complex diseases that have been recognized with increasing frequency among children. Finally, while the prognosis of the majority of patients is positive, we are now recognizing that a "good" medical outcome does not cover the cognitive, psychological, and behavioral sequelae that can occur.
The goal of this Research Topic is to increase the knowledge about patients at risk of severe disease and long-lasting cognitive and psychopathological dysfunctions. There is a pressing need to invest in studies investigating the neurobiological mechanisms, tracking the natural history of the disease, and recognizing the potential predictive features of poor outcomes to facilitate timely, effective therapeutic interventions. Early recognition of neuropsychological deficits will allow timely, specific interventions to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Furthermore, the increased use of advanced imaging and neurophysiological techniques may also help identify underlying brain dysfunction and cognitive impairment early in the disease course and, therefore, should be better explored.
We are interested in both original articles and reviews. The works will address the critical questions of diagnosis challenges, management, and cognitive/psychopathological outcome. In particular, research focusing on, but not limited to, the following Themes should be addressed:
1. The pathologic mechanism underlying immune-mediated disorders and its implications on treatment
2. Longitudinal studies aimed at identifying those most likely patients to experience ongoing long-term difficulties
3. Additional neuropsychological/psychopathological research evaluating larger samples and more homogenous methods
4. Basic research in animal models targeting the dissection of underlying molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms
Immune-mediated/autoimmune disorders are characterized by neuronal autoantibodies that bind to proteins essential for normal brain function and development. When synaptic proteins are targeted, pediatric patients present a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms. New findings regarding the overlap between inflammatory demyelinating encephalopathies and autoimmune encephalitis due to neuronal surface antibodies and their coexistence with viral forms pose new challenges to the diagnosis. Furthermore, there are still several uncertainties in the critical care management of these complex diseases that have been recognized with increasing frequency among children. Finally, while the prognosis of the majority of patients is positive, we are now recognizing that a "good" medical outcome does not cover the cognitive, psychological, and behavioral sequelae that can occur.
The goal of this Research Topic is to increase the knowledge about patients at risk of severe disease and long-lasting cognitive and psychopathological dysfunctions. There is a pressing need to invest in studies investigating the neurobiological mechanisms, tracking the natural history of the disease, and recognizing the potential predictive features of poor outcomes to facilitate timely, effective therapeutic interventions. Early recognition of neuropsychological deficits will allow timely, specific interventions to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Furthermore, the increased use of advanced imaging and neurophysiological techniques may also help identify underlying brain dysfunction and cognitive impairment early in the disease course and, therefore, should be better explored.
We are interested in both original articles and reviews. The works will address the critical questions of diagnosis challenges, management, and cognitive/psychopathological outcome. In particular, research focusing on, but not limited to, the following Themes should be addressed:
1. The pathologic mechanism underlying immune-mediated disorders and its implications on treatment
2. Longitudinal studies aimed at identifying those most likely patients to experience ongoing long-term difficulties
3. Additional neuropsychological/psychopathological research evaluating larger samples and more homogenous methods
4. Basic research in animal models targeting the dissection of underlying molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms